Victims identified from New York City bike path truck rampage
NEW YORK CITY -- Eight people were killed and about a dozen injured when a man in a rented pickup truck mowed down pedestrians and cyclists along the busy bike path near the West Side Highway Tuesday.
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Here's what we know about the victims.
Darren Drake, of New Milford, New Jersey, has been identified as being among the deceased. The victim's father, Jimmy, said his son was an only child who would have turned 33 on November 18.
Jimmy Drake said they hadn't heard from Darren and knew he rode his bike in that area, so they drove 45 minutes to Bellevue Hospital on a hunch to see if he was there. The FBI was present as Jimmy identified his son's body.
"I said, 'that's my boy, that's my baby,'" Jimmy Drake said. "Just picture that face. He really looked like he was having a nice dream."
Darren was a graduate of Rutgers University and worked at Moody's, and he loved to read and listen to books on tape while he rode his bicycle. Jimmy said he is not angry with the suspect, but he is deeply hurt.
"I'm not even angry, I'm not angry at all," he said. "I'm hurt. I'm absolutely hurt."
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Police also identified 23-year-old Nicholas Cleves as a victim. He lived with his mom on Greenwich Street, though he was originally from Boston. He reportedly has a girlfriend and was known to ride his bike in the area. According to Facebook, he worked as a software engineer.
Five of the fatalities are from Argentina and were visiting a friend from Boston to celebrate a graduation anniversary. A statement says the Argentine Consulate in New York is working with local officials.
The Argentinian Foreign Ministry released the following statement:
The deputy Prime Minister of Belgium also tweeted that a Belgian citizen was killed and three others injured. The mayor of the Belgian town of Staden identified the fatality as Ann-Laure Decadt, a mother of two boys, ages 3 years and 3 months. He said the family is devastated and asking for privacy.
The victim's husband, Alexander Naessens, released a statement saying Decadt was riding a bike and was apparently surprised by the danger that came from behind. She was on a city trip with her two sisters and her mother, who were unharmed.
"Ann-Laure was 31 years old and was a fantastic wife and the most beautiful mom to our two sons," he wrote. "This loss is unbearable and incomprehensible. It's unknown at this time when her remains will be brought back to Belgium. The family emphatically asks that their privacy be respected."
The New York City Department of Education reported that two staff members and two students were hurt when the truck slammed into a school bus, in an accident that ended the path of destruction carved by the driver.
TIMELINE: How the New York City truck attack unfolded
Authorities said five survivors were taken to Bellevue, while eight were transported to New York-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital. Five were treated and released, while the other three were transported to New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Four survivors remain at Bellevue, while the fifth was also transported to Weill Cornell. The four transported patients remain in critical condition.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
