Family of Queens Cyclist Killed by Pickup Truck Seeks Justice After Fatal Right-Turn Crash

The family of a Queens cyclist killed last week in Flushing is searching for answers — and accountability — after what police say was a preventable right-turn crash involving a pickup truck.

According to the NYPD, 48-year-old Xi Zheng was riding westbound on Sanford Avenue when he was struck by a Ford F-150 making a right turn from 160th Street. Zheng, who was biking to work as he routinely did, was transported to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

“He was on his way to work on a bike,” said Zheng’s nephew, Jacky Huang. “He always biked to work. We’re just all trying to make sense of it.”

A Cyclist With the Right of Way

Police and transportation officials confirmed that Zheng had the right of way. Sanford Avenue has no stop sign or traffic signal controlling westbound traffic, while the truck driver was governed by a stop sign on 160th Street. Despite that, the driver proceeded into the turn and struck the cyclist, who was riding in the bike lane.

The driver, a 23-year-old man, remained at the scene. As of this writing, no criminal charges have been filed.

“He was in the bike lane,” Huang said of his uncle. “Then the driver on 160th Street was making a right turn.”

Right-turn crashes like this are among the most common — and most dangerous — collision scenarios for cyclists in New York City. They often occur when drivers fail to yield, misjudge speed, or simply do not see cyclists traveling straight through an intersection.

The Role of Large Pickup Trucks

The vehicle involved, a Ford F-150, is one of the heaviest pickup trucks on the market. Transportation safety advocates have long warned that large pickups pose unique risks due to high front hoods, wide blind spots, and elevated driver seating positions that can obscure cyclists and pedestrians — even in daylight conditions.

These design features make vigilance and strict adherence to traffic controls even more critical when operating such vehicles in dense urban neighborhoods like Flushing.

A Known Problem Intersection

While crashes in the immediate area are not constant, city data shows they are far from rare. Since 2012, there have been 116 reported crashes in the blocks surrounding Sanford Avenue and 160th Street, injuring 39 people, including three cyclists and seven pedestrians.

The intersection itself presents multiple challenges. Sanford Avenue has an unprotected, westbound bike lane. 160th Street shifts from a one-way southbound street to a two-way street just south of Sanford. There are no traffic signals, and cyclist markings are minimal — conditions that demand heightened caution from drivers turning across bike lanes.

A Broader Pattern of Harm

Xi Zheng is the first traditional cyclist killed in New York City this year, according to the Department of Transportation. His death comes amid a troubling trend: in just the first 11 days of 2026, 193 cyclists and e-cyclists were injured in traffic crashes across the city — an average of 17 per day.

While overall crash numbers are reportedly down compared to last year, the volume of serious cyclist injuries remains unacceptably high, particularly in boroughs like Queens where wide streets and fast-moving traffic intersect with growing bike usage.

When a Fatal Bicycle Crash Occurs, Accountability Matters

The NYPD’s decision not to immediately file criminal charges does not end the inquiry. Civil investigations operate under a different standard, focusing on whether a driver failed to yield, violated traffic laws, or acted negligently — and whether roadway design, vehicle size, or visibility issues played a role.

Families often consult attorneys quickly because critical evidence can disappear within days. Surveillance footage may be overwritten, vehicles repaired, and witness memories fade.

Bicycle accident lawyers with experience handling fatal crashes work with accident-reconstruction experts, review traffic-control data, and examine whether additional parties — including vehicle owners or government entities — may share responsibility.

In cases like this, families may also need guidance from Queens car accident lawyers with deep knowledge of local intersections, NYPD procedures, and Queens-specific crash patterns.

Justice Begins With Action

Evidence in fatal bicycle crash cases can disappear quickly. Surveillance footage may be erased, vehicles repaired, and witness memories fade within days. Families are often advised to speak with experienced bicycle accident lawyers as soon as possible to preserve critical evidence, secure crash data, and protect their rights before key proof is lost.