Fourth victim, 30-year-old mom, dies after being mowed down by accused drunk driver in July 4th NYC horror crash
A 30-year-old mother died Tuesday of injuries she sustained when an alleged drunk driver plowed through a crowd celebrating the 4th of July in a Lower East Side park — becoming the fourth person killed in the horrific crash.
Emily Ruiz had been hospitalized since last Thursday when the suspect, Daniel Christopher Hyden, allegedly drove his Ford F-150 pickup truck while intoxicated and barreled over a sidewalk into Corlears Hook Park.
Ruiz — who had a 6-year-old son named Kal’el — was taken off life support and died of her injuries, including brain and liver damage, five days later, police and friends said Thursday.
“Emily fought for [five] days,” her close friend, Matthew Hernandez, told The Post.
News that the young mom died rocked the close-knit community already reeling from the three other deaths.
“Emily was one of my best friends. I have known her for over 20 years,” Hernandez, 30, said. “She was the most kind-hearted woman you could know [and] a hard-working mom.”
Ruiz lived across the street from the park in an apartment with her son, mother and aunt, Hernandez said.
Another woman, whose daughter grew up with Ruiz, said the whole community is devastated.
“She was a wonderful human being. Always friendly and kind to people,” Griselle Brown said. “Everyone knew her. Everyone loved her.”
Hyden, a 44-year-old substance abuse counselor who wrote a book called “The Sober Addict,” has been jailed without bail since the deadly crash.
He was charged with assault causing serious injury with a weapon, aggravated vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated, and aggravated unlicensed operator — as he was driving with a suspended license.
Hyden, who has a history of DWI arrests across multiple states, is being held in protective custody, to the dismay of the victims’ families.
The self-proclaimed addict is accused of killing Lucille Pinkney, 59, and her son Herman Pinkney, 38 — who lived together near the crash scene — as well as Ana Morel, 43.
Another seven people were injured, including Herman’s longtime girlfriend Jessica Pellot and her 11-year-old son, Jakob Velazquez.
“It’s sad that a drunk driver had to take [Ruiz’s] life. We need stronger laws. People like Emily, Herman, his mother, … and Ana, they didn’t have to go like that,” Brown said. “My daughter is devastated. They grew up together. We are all devastated.”
Residents are trying to cope with both the deaths of their loved ones and the trauma they witnessed.
Many people in the neighborhood were either celebrating the 4th of July inside the park with the victims or were across the street when the pick-up truck plowed into the crowd.
“It’s been really hard. I was at the accident. It was tragic for the entire community,” Hernandez told The Post.
“There were 200 people that witnessed this that day — ranging from the ages of 10 to 60. All eye witnesses. We are all suffering.”
