Man charged with DWI after plunging van into East River
NEW YORK -- A father and son were inside a van when it plunged into the East River early Saturday morning, and police now say alcohol was involved.
It happened just before 2 a.m. along East Loop Road on Roosevelt Island.
Officials say 40-year-old Saeed Speede was driving and his father, who is in his 60s, was a passenger when the van veered off the road.
A witness who was on his way home from work said he ran over to the scene and saw someone swimming out of the water.
"I just hear like a pretty close, like really loud, 'bang, bang, bang,'" he said. "As I came around the cars and got a good view of it, I saw the side of this just taken out, a car in the water, headlights on."
Both Speede and his father are expected to be OK.
Speede was taken into custody and charged with DWI. Officials said the father was uncooperative and left the scene.