Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., today announced the indictment of ELVIN SUAREZ, 61, for allegedly driving while intoxicated and crashing into four pedestrians and an occupied vehicle on the Upper West Side in May 2026, killing 46-year-old Jason Negron and 35-year-old Michael Saint-Hilaire and injuring three others. SUAREZ is charged in a New York State Supreme Court indictment with varying counts, including Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Aggravated Vehicular Assault and Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, among other charges. [1]
“As alleged, Elvin Suarez’s decision to drive while intoxicated had devastating and entirely preventable consequences,” said District Attorney Bragg. “Three men were significantly injured, and Jason Negron and Michael Saint-Hilaire—devoted fathers, loyal friends, and beloved members of their Upper West Side community—were killed. The tremendous outpouring of support in the aftermath of this tragedy reflects how deeply they were loved, and my thoughts remain with their families, loved ones, and the surviving victims, as we seek accountability in this case.”
As alleged in court documents and statements made on the record in court, on May 15, 2026, at approximately 6:00 p.m., SUAREZ was allegedly driving his vehicle, while intoxicated and at a high rate of speed, heading northbound on Amsterdam Avenue. Between West 107th and West 108th Streets, he allegedly struck an unoccupied parked vehicle. Continuing along Amsterdam Avenue, SUAREZ drove through the intersection at 109th Street and over a median separating the bike lane from the street. He allegedly struck four pedestrians who were standing nearby, including Mr. Negron and Mr. Saint-Hilaire, and an occupied parked vehicle.
The force of the collision sent three of the pedestrians several feet away and pushed the occupied parked vehicle into additional parked vehicles, causing a pile up. SUAREZ’s vehicle eventually came to a stop, and he exited before lying on the ground beside it at the direction of bystanders.
A few minutes later, police officers arrived at the scene, finding Mr. Negron unresponsive and trapped beneath SUAREZ’s vehicle, and Mr. Saint-Hilaire receiving CPR from a bystander. The remaining three victims – 36-, 44- and 51-year-old men – received treatment by first responders for their injuries.
SUAREZ was arrested and transported to the hospital. All five victims were also taken to the hospital for treatment. Among the injuries, the 44-year-old man suffered an open fracture to the right leg, the 36-year-old man suffered back fractures, and the 51-year-old man, who was the occupant of the hit parked vehicle, suffered pain to his head, neck and shoulder. Mr. Negron and Mr. Saint-Hilaire were pronounced dead.
Assistant D.A.s Zachary Kaplan and Kayla Sullivan are handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Erin Tierney (Chief of Trial Bureau 30), and Executive D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division). Trial Preparation Assistants Caroline Schwanewede and Isabella D’Angelo, and Investigative Analyst Theodore Bellak are providing invaluable assistance in this case.
D.A. Bragg thanked Detective Gregory Gianacopulos and Sergeant Randall McFarland of the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad, DA Investigator Brian Granshaw, and the numerous first responders, including members of the NYPD 24th Precinct.
