Victims of deadly nyc crash involving new jersey addiction counselor identified

NEW YORK, NY — A tragic accident on Thursday, July 4, has left four pedestrians dead and several others injured after a vehicle struck a group of people in Corlears Hook Park.

At approximately 8:53 p.m., police responded to a 911 call reporting multiple pedestrians struck in the vicinity of Water Street and Jackson Street. According to the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad, a 44-year-old male driver, identified as Daniel Hyden of Monmouth Junction, NJ, was operating a Ford F150 northbound on Water Street at a high rate of speed when he lost control and struck eleven pedestrians in the park.

Among the deceased are Ana Morel, 43, of 445 East 120 Street, Lucille Pinkney, 59, and Hernan Pinkney, 38, both of 638 Water Street. An unidentified female pedestrian also died after being transported to NYC Health and Hospitals/Bellevue.

Several others were injured:

A 30-year-old female pedestrian is in critical condition at NYC Health and Hospitals/Bellevue.
A 35-year-old female is in stable condition at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
A 36-year-old female is in stable condition at NYU Langone Medical Center.
A 37-year-old male, a 33-year-old female, and an 11-year-old male are in stable condition at Mount Sinai Beth Israel.
A 38-year-old male and an 18-year-old female are in stable condition at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

The driver, Hyden, has been taken into custody with charges pending. The investigation is ongoing by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad.

Hyden, a published author of self-help addiction books, is also an addiction counselor in New Jersey.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.