NEW YORK -- Two people were killed and seven others injured when a driver crashed into a Manhattan park Thursday night, authorities said.

The incident happened just before 9 p.m. on the Lower East Side, according to the New York City Police Department.

Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck was speeding down Water Street when they ran through a stop sign at the intersection Water and Cherry streets, drove up onto the sidewalk and crashed into Corlears Hook Park.

Nine pedestrians were struck, including four who became trapped under the vehicle.

The New York City Fire Department said crews arrived on the scene within three-and-a-half minutes and lifted the vehicle off the victims.

Nine people were rushed to area hospitals. Two people have been pronounced dead.

Officials say two victims are critically injured, three suffered serious injuries and two suffered minor injuries.

Maddrey said they are still working to determine the ages of the victims, but at least two children were taken to an area hospital.

"A driver drove into a crowd of people who were actually just celebrating like so many New Yorkers and Americans are doing right now," Mayor Eric Adams said.

Authorities said they believe alcohol may have been a factor.

"Responding officers who did arrive on the scene did smell some alcohol, but we are still in the process of doing testing," Maddrey said.

Maddrey added, "We believe initially that there were people who were there at the scene who grabbed the driver, removed the driver and made sure the driver didn't leave until first responders made it to the scene."

Stay with CBS2 News and CBSNewYork.com for the latest on this developing story.

In:
• Lower East Side
• Manhattan