What began as an ordinary Friday evening on Manhattan’s Upper West Side ended in tragedy after a Mercedes-Benz SUV struck pedestrians near West 109th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
According to police, the crash happened around 6 p.m. on May 15, 2026. The vehicle was traveling north on Amsterdam Avenue when it collided with a parked vehicle before continuing toward the intersection. The SUV then crossed a concrete island and struck several pedestrians on the sidewalk.
Two men, 46-year-old Jason Negron and 35-year-old Michael Saint-Hilaire, were pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital. Three other people were injured in the crash and were hospitalized.
A Quiet Neighborhood Suddenly Thrown Into Chaos
Witnesses described a frightening scene as emergency crews rushed to the area. The crash also involved several parked vehicles, creating a chain reaction that added to the destruction.
People nearby attempted to help those who had been injured before emergency responders arrived. The incident left a normally familiar neighborhood shaken, particularly because several of the victims were people known to others in the surrounding community.
The area around the crash remained closed while investigators worked to document what had happened.
Driver Faces Charges
Police arrested the driver, identified as 61-year-old Elvin Suarez. Authorities said he was charged with offenses including manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated. The investigation was handled by the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad.
Because the case involves criminal charges, the allegations against the defendant remain allegations unless and until established in court.
A Community Remembers the Victims
In the days following the crash, members of the Upper West Side community gathered to remember Negron and Saint-Hilaire. A candlelight vigil was held near the intersection, where residents shared memories and expressed support for the victims’ families.
The tragedy has left the neighborhood confronting the consequences of a single crash that changed several families’ lives in a matter of moments.
For residents who knew the area as a familiar place to gather, the intersection now carries a painful reminder of how quickly an ordinary evening can turn into an emergency.