Full Breakdown
Two Killed, Three Critically Injured in Manhattan Crash Involving Suspected Drunk Driver
5/17/2026, 1:36:50 AM
Fatal Crash on Amsterdam Avenue
At about 6 p.m. on Friday, a 61-year-old driver lost control of a black Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 SUV on Amsterdam Avenue near West 109th Street in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The vehicle struck a parked 2013 Volkswagen Jetta, collided with a 1999 Chevrolet Astro van, and jumped the curb, hitting a group of men outside a barbershop before stopping against a parking meter.
Key Individuals and Casualties
Police identified the driver as Elvin Suarez, a longtime Morningside Heights resident, and took him into custody. Two pedestrians—Michael Saint-Hilaire, 35, a father of triplets, and Jason Negron, 46, a doorman—were pronounced dead. Three other men, aged 36, 44, and 51, remain in critical condition at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Hospital. Vehicles involved included the Mercedes SUV, the Volkswagen, the Chevrolet Astro, and at least four additional parked cars.
Timeline of the Collision
- 6:00 p.m.: Suarez’s SUV sideswiped the Volkswagen on East 108th Street.
- The SUV continued north, striking the Chevrolet Astro and several parked cars.
- It vaulted the curb at West 109th Street, landing on the sidewalk where the barbershop patrons were seated.
- Police secured the scene and launched a criminal investigation.
Community Impact
Neighbors described the event as a “horror show” and noted that the sidewalk outside the barbershop is a regular gathering place. Residents expressed shock at the loss of two community members and raised concerns about pedestrian safety in a densely populated neighborhood.
Police and Legal Response
NYPD officials confirmed the driver appeared intoxicated, recorded a .1 % blood-alcohol level, and arrested him. The Collision Investigation Squad continues to examine the crash. Suarez faces two counts of manslaughter, three counts of vehicular assault, and one count of DWI.
Criticism and Community Concerns
A local resident noted that people often sit outside and drink, highlighting a pattern of public drinking near the crash site. The driver’s claim of a stroke before the incident was not supported by police evidence.
Conflicting Reports
Initial coverage did not name the driver; later reports identified him as Elvin Suarez. Some sources cite a stroke claim, while police findings emphasize alcohol impairment. Reports differ on the total number of vehicles involved, citing seven or eight.
Verbatim Witness Quotes
- “The S.U.V. jumped in the air, and when it came down, it smashed on everybody.” — Jorgé Santiago, 53, witness
- “He was basically crushed between the parking post and the black Mercedes.” — David Lawrence, 65, witness
- “I was about to go this way to sit with them, and I said, ‘Let me go to the left and play my number instead.’ That is what saved me, because otherwise I would’ve been killed.” — Kenny Wong, 63, local resident
- “They sit out here and drink all the time.” — Glenn Walcott, Saxon at the neighboring church
Next Steps
The NYPD investigation remains open, and prosecutors may consider additional charges as further evidence emerges.
