Five pedestrians were struck near a barbershop after a driver mounted the curb.
NEW YORK — A neighborhood block on Manhattan’s Upper West Side was left grieving after a driver struck five pedestrians Friday evening, killing two men and critically injuring three others near Amsterdam Avenue and West 109th Street.
The crash unfolded about 6 p.m. outside 996 Amsterdam Ave., a busy stretch between West 109th Street and Cathedral Avenue. Police said a northbound Mercedes hit parked vehicles, jumped the curb and struck the group. The men who died were 35 and 46.
Three other victims, ages 36, 44 and 51, were taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in critical condition. The 61-year-old driver also was taken to the hospital and placed in custody. Police sources said he appeared to be intoxicated, and investigators were continuing to examine what caused him to lose control.
Neighbors said many of the men who were struck had been outside a barbershop, a familiar gathering spot on the block. One witness said the aftermath was “horrifying” and described strangers rushing toward the wreckage to help. Video showed people trying to lift the vehicle after a man was pinned beneath it.
The Mercedes struck at least two parked vehicles before hitting the pedestrians, police said. People inside one parked minivan declined medical treatment. Officers blocked traffic while firefighters, medics and investigators worked at the scene and documented the path of the vehicle.
Officials had not publicly identified the victims by Saturday morning. Police were working to notify families, review surveillance and cellphone video, and determine whether charges would be filed or upgraded. The crash remained under investigation.
Residents described the block as close-knit and said the deaths were felt beyond the immediate families. One witness said losing people there felt like “losing a family,” because neighbors often know one another even when they are not close friends.
Police said the next steps include completing the crash investigation, confirming the driver’s condition and releasing more information on the victims once relatives are notified.
Author note: Last updated May 16, 2026.