Police sought an e-bike rider after a Chinatown educator died.
More Than Thirty Years
A northbound e-bike rider struck Chinatown educator Priscilla Loke, 69, at Grand and Chrystie streets on Sept. 5, 2023; the official record logs the collision at 10:34 a.m. and records one pedestrian killed.
Location reported in Open Data.
What We Know
A northbound rider struck Priscilla Loke, 69, at Grand and Chrystie streets on Sept. 5, 2023. The official record classifies the vehicle as an e-bike; Streetsblog described an electric Citi Bike, while amNewYork and ABC7 called the rider a bicyclist. Loke was assistant director of Chinatown Head Start and was walking to work, ABC7 reported. Accounts differ on the rider's departure: Streetsblog said he left after talking with police, while ABC7 said he left after officers walked over to Loke. Her family sought answers about why he was allowed to leave and how police investigated.
A northbound rider at Grand and Chrystie
The official crash record places the collision at Chrystie Street and Grand Street in Manhattan at 10:34 a.m. on Sept. 5, 2023, and records one pedestrian killed. Police accounts reported by amNewYork say the northbound bicyclist struck Loke at the northeast corner.
Sources describe Loke's position differently
amNewYork, citing investigators, reported that Loke was standing in the crosswalk at the northeast corner. Streetsblog's account of CBS2 footage said she appeared to be standing in the bike lane.
Reports use different bike descriptions
The official record classifies the rider's vehicle as an e-bike, and the Daily News also called it an e-bike. Streetsblog described it as an electric Citi Bike. amNewYork and ABC7 referred to the rider as a bicyclist or said he was on a bike.
A life devoted to young students and family
ABC7 reported that Loke, 69, was assistant director of Chinatown Head Start, helped run the center for more than 30 years, and was walking to work when she was struck. Friends and colleagues recalled her connection with students across four decades, the Daily News reported.
ABC7 reported that Loke was devoted to the children at the center and to her grandnieces and nephews, and looked forward to spending more time with them in retirement. Her nephew Weng Wai Ho said, "It's taken her away from what my family could have, the closest thing to a grandmother."
Questions about the rider's departure
Streetsblog and amNewYork reported that police said the rider fled. Streetsblog's account of CBS2 footage said he initially stayed, spoke with police, and left afterward. ABC7's account of video said he spoke with officers and left after they walked over to Loke. Streetsblog also reported that a witness told CBS2 police let him go.
ABC7 reported that Loke's family and friends sought answers about why the rider was allowed to leave and why the Collision Investigation Squad did not respond and the intersection was closed only about an hour later. amNewYork reported that police released images of the rider.
Accounts differ on the timing of Loke's death. Streetsblog and amNewYork reported that she died at Bellevue two days after the crash. ABC7 reported that she never regained consciousness and was taken off life support on Sept. 8, three days after the crash.
Where
CHRYSTIE STREET and GRAND STREET