Teen Killed in East Village Citi Bike Crash With Sanitation Truck: What New York Law Says About Bicycle and Truck Accidents

A tragic collision involving an electric Citi Bike and a sanitation truck in Manhattan’s East Village has left a 15-year-old girl dead and a 16-year-old girl injured, once again highlighting the potentially devastating consequences when cyclists and large commercial vehicles share New York City streets.

According to Streetsblog, the two teenagers were riding together on an electric Citi Bike near East 14th Street and First Avenue at approximately 9 p.m. on September 18 when they were involved in a collision with a Peterbilt truck. Both teenagers were transported to Bellevue Hospital, where the 15-year-old later died. The 16-year-old reportedly suffered a leg injury and was listed in stable condition.

The truck driver remained at the scene, and the investigation is ongoing.

Questions About How the East Village Crash Occurred

Initial information released by police indicated that the teenagers and the truck were both traveling west on East 14th Street as the truck turned north onto First Avenue.

However, Streetsblog subsequently reported that video of the collision appears to show the cyclist continuing across First Avenue rather than turning right as initially described by police. The circumstances surrounding the collision therefore remain under investigation, and any final determination regarding fault should be based on the complete evidence.

Crashes involving cyclists and turning trucks can be particularly complex. Investigators may examine surveillance and traffic-camera footage, vehicle positioning, traffic signals, witness statements, the truck’s movements before the collision, and whether the driver properly checked for cyclists before beginning the turn.

Why Large Trucks Pose a Particular Danger to Cyclists

Collisions between bicycles and large commercial vehicles can result in catastrophic or fatal injuries even at relatively low speeds.

Trucks have substantial blind spots, require more room to maneuver, and can expose cyclists to what are commonly called “right-hook” collisions when a truck turns across the path of a bicycle traveling beside it or through an intersection.

New York cyclists have the same fundamental rights to use the roadway as other vehicle operators. Drivers must exercise appropriate care when turning, entering intersections, crossing bicycle lanes, and operating near cyclists.

The bicycle accident lawyers at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf have represented cyclists and their families in serious and catastrophic bicycle accident and e-bike cases involving trucks, buses, automobiles and other vehicles throughout New York.

Sanitation Trucks Present Additional Safety Concerns

The involvement of a sanitation truck also raises broader concerns about the operation of large commercial vehicles on densely traveled New York City streets.

Garbage and sanitation trucks frequently operate in neighborhoods where pedestrians, cyclists, delivery workers and motorists must share limited roadway space. Their size and weight can make a collision especially destructive.

Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf has substantial experience handling serious garbage-truck litigation. In 2025, the firm obtained a $17.5 million settlement in Dutchess County for the wrongful deaths of a grandmother and her three-year-old grandchild who were struck by a left-turning sanitation truck.

Preserving Evidence After a Serious Bicycle-Truck Collision

When a cyclist is seriously injured or killed in a collision with a commercial truck, determining exactly what happened often requires an immediate and detailed investigation.

Important evidence can include surveillance footage from nearby buildings, traffic-camera recordings, dashcam footage, electronic vehicle information, GPS and route records, driver records, photographs of the scene, witness testimony and information regarding the truck company’s safety and operating practices.

Some of that evidence may disappear or be overwritten quickly, which is why early investigation can be particularly important in catastrophic bicycle and truck accident cases.

A Tragic Reminder of the Vulnerability of New York Cyclists

The death of a 15-year-old girl is a devastating tragedy for her family and loved ones. It is also another painful reminder of the vulnerability of cyclists when they encounter large trucks on New York City streets.

As investigators continue to determine precisely how this collision occurred, the case underscores the responsibility of commercial drivers and trucking companies to operate large vehicles with extreme care around cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

The personal injury lawyers at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf have represented seriously injured cyclists and families who have lost loved ones in bicycle accidents throughout New York City and New York State.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a bicycle accident involving a truck or other motor vehicle, call 212-943-1090 or contact us online for a free consultation.