Manhattan, NY (May 18, 2026) – Two men died and three others were critically hurt Friday evening, May 15, after an SUV jumped a curb and struck a group of people sitting outside a barbershop on the Upper West Side. The crash occurred near West 109th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
Elvin Suarez, 61, is suspected of driving drunk when he lost control of his Mercedes-Benz SUV. Surveillance video captured the vehicle striking a parked car two blocks away on West 107th Street before continuing toward the sidewalk where a group of men from the neighborhood were seated in folding chairs outside the barbershop.
Two men were pronounced dead at the scene. They were identified as Jason Negron, 46, and Michael Saint-Hilaire, 35. Three other men were taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in critical condition.
Suarez was taken into custody and faces charges of manslaughter, vehicular assault, and driving while intoxicated.
The New York Police Department continues to investigate the full circumstances of the accident.
We extend our deepest condolences to the families of Jason Negron and Michael Saint-Hilaire, and to everyone in their community who knew and loved them.
What Evidence Is Needed in a Fatal Accident Case in New York?
In a fatal accident case in New York, key evidence typically includes surveillance footage, police reports, witness statements, and any available data from the vehicles involved. The stronger and more complete the evidence, the clearer the picture becomes of what happened and who bears responsibility.
Police reports are among the first documents gathered after a fatal crash. They record the responding officers’ observations, the positions of the vehicles, any field sobriety test results, and preliminary findings about the cause of the collision.
In drunk driving cases, arrest records and toxicology results also become critical pieces of documentation. New York law allows surviving family members to pursue a wrongful death claim alongside any criminal case, and the evidence gathered by law enforcement can directly support that civil action.
Medical records documenting the injuries and cause of death also form a critical part of any legal claim, helping establish the full extent of harm suffered by the victims and their families.
Physical evidence is typically documented by investigators in the immediate aftermath of the collision. A wrongful death attorney can work with accident reconstruction specialists and other experts to analyze that evidence further. In cases involving an allegedly intoxicated driver, additional records such as surveillance from nearby establishments may also become relevant.
If you lost someone in a crash caused by a drunk or reckless driver in New York, you may have legal options worth exploring. At Metro Law, we have experience reviewing wrongful death and serious injury cases throughout New York City.
To learn more, you can call Metro Law at (800) 469-6476. We can walk you through what the claims process looks like and explain what may be available in your situation.
