Tragic Collision on the Upper West Side

On the Upper West Side, a familiar corner serves as a gathering point for a group of friends. This routine was marked by tragedy when a speeding S.U.V. ended the lives of two, Jason Negron and Michael Saint-Hilaire.

On Friday, May 15, Michael Saint-Hilaire and Jason Negron joined friends on this block to unwind. They spent time joking and enjoying cold cans of Coca-Cola, as described by their companions that evening. The mild temperature suggested a longer stay. Mr. Saint-Hilaire sat on his motorcycle, while Mr. Negron, still in his work attire, stood beside him as more friends arrived.

Their connection to the corner of 109th Street and Amsterdam Avenue ran deep. Here, Columbia University students share the space with elderly men conversing in Spanish, seated comfortably under trees.

As the night advanced and bars filled, the group noticed an old acquaintance across the street. Mr. Saint-Hilaire, 35, and Mr. Negron, 46, approached this friend at a cement median near a small floral garden. They positioned themselves between bike and traffic lanes just before 6 p.m.

Two blocks away, Elvin Suarez, 61, drove a black Mercedes-Benz S.U.V. through the area, aiming for his home on the Upper West Side, according to police reports. His vehicle clipped the passenger side of a white S.U.V., after which he accelerated, officers noted.

Jason Negron had celebrated his wife’s birthday with dinner just days before, a friend shared. Michael Saint-Hilaire often crossed Central Park to reconnect with friends in his childhood neighborhood.