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2 men dead after alleged drunk driver hits pedestrians and cars on Upper West Side
By
Giulia Heyward
Published May 16, 2026
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Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images
By
Giulia Heyward
Published May 16, 2026
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Two pedestrians died and several others are being treated for injuries after a man lost control of his car during an alleged drunk-driving incident on the Upper West Side Friday evening.
Police said a 61-year-old man had been driving a Mercedes Benz SUV while traveling northbound near 109th Street and Amsterdam Avenue around 6 p.m.
They said the driver lost control of the vehicle, colliding with two parked cars and striking five pedestrians. Pictures from the scene show the Mercedes Benz with heavy damage and on the sidewalk.
Police said the pedestrians were men ranging in ages from 35 to 51 years old.
All of the pedestrians were transported to local hospitals in critical condition. Two of the men, ages 35 and 46, were pronounced deceased, police said on Saturday morning.
The Mercedes Benz’s driver remained on scene and was later taken into custody, authorities said. Police have not yet released his name.
The incident is being investigated by the NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad.
Tagged
manhattan
public safety
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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