New York City, New York — A 50-year-old delivery woman was killed Monday morning after a dump truck struck her e-bike in busy Herald Square and continued driving, according to police and a transportation safety advocacy group.
The deadly collision happened around 10:50 a.m. on West 34th Street near Seventh Avenue, directly in front of the Primark store and only a short distance from the iconic Macy’s flagship location.
Police said both the truck and the cyclist were traveling west on West 34th Street when the crash occurred. The woman was riding a JOCO rental e-bike while making a delivery when the truck collided with her, authorities said.
Dump Truck Continued Driving After Crash
Following the collision, the dump truck driver continued west on West 34th Street instead of remaining at the scene, according to police.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, police and Transportation Alternatives said. The crash unfolded in one of Manhattan’s busiest areas, where large numbers of pedestrians, cyclists, delivery workers and vehicles move through the streets throughout the day.
A witness who spoke to AM New York without being identified described the chaotic moments immediately after the collision.
“The truck came, and the bike was here, and the truck served and hit them,” the witness said. “I was across the street. I was down. I was walking, and I saw it, and that’s when everybody started running out, crowding and stuff.”
The scene quickly attracted a crowd of people who gathered around the area as emergency responders arrived.
Driver Found and Questioned by Police
The NYPD later confirmed that the driver was found and questioned following the crash. However, no charges had been filed by late Monday afternoon, according to the information available at the time.
The circumstances surrounding the collision remained under investigation as authorities worked to determine exactly what happened before and after the truck struck the cyclist.
The deadly crash also renewed concerns from transportation safety advocates about the dangers faced by people riding bikes and e-bikes on New York City’s streets.
Advocacy Group Calls for Greater Bike Safety
Transportation Alternatives expressed grief over the woman’s death and said she was the 20th bike rider killed on New York City streets this year, according to the organization’s statement.
“We’re horrified and heartbroken that another bike rider is dead,” Transportation Alternatives said in a statement. “This is the 20th bike rider killed on our streets this year — the 20th New Yorker whose community is now grieving a sudden and preventable loss.
The organization also pointed to an upcoming City Council hearing concerning e-bikes and argued that the city’s broader discussion should include bike safety.
“In just two days, the City Council will hold a hearing on e-bikes,” the advocates added. “During such a deadly year, it would make sense to hold a hearing on bikes and bike safety — but we must be clear about the risks and the dangers. Seventeen New Yorkers on e-bikes have been killed on our streets so far this year, and our city’s leaders should be doing everything in their power to ensure safety on our streets.”
Deadly Crash Comes After Other NYC Traffic Deaths
Monday’s fatal collision comes amid several other deadly incidents involving vulnerable road users across New York City.
Just one week earlier, 68-year-old Bronx resident Ismael Rodriguez was struck and killed by a motorist, police said. Investigators were examining whether the driver may have been behind the wheel of a Lamborghini.
That driver had not been caught as of Monday.
Earlier this month, 77-year-old Thomas Bakas died after being thrown from his e-scooter during a head-on collision with a bicyclist outside a Hilton hotel in Downtown Brooklyn, according to police.
The incidents have brought renewed attention to the risks faced by cyclists, e-bike delivery workers, pedestrians and e-scooter riders navigating New York City’s crowded streets.
For the delivery worker killed in Herald Square, a routine morning delivery ended in a fatal collision that left another New York family grieving.
What do you think New York City should do to improve safety for cyclists, e-bike delivery workers and pedestrians? Share your thoughts in the comments.
