E-bike rider dies after left-turn crash on 4th Avenue
A 49-year-old man riding an e-bike was fatally injured at 4th Avenue and 53rd Street on May 22, 2024, after police said a 40-year-old pickup driver turned left onto 53rd Street in Sunset Park.
What We Know
On May 22, 2024, at about 9:10 a.m., a 49-year-old man riding an e-bike south on 4th Avenue was involved in a fatal crash with a pickup driver who police said was traveling the opposite way and turning left onto 53rd Street in Sunset Park. The official crash record places the collision at 4 Avenue and 53 Street and records one cyclist killed, with a pickup truck and an e-bike involved. Police told amNY the rider suffered traumatic head and body injuries, was taken to NYU Langone Hospital, and died. The 40-year-old pickup driver remained at the scene. The official record lists failure to yield right-of-way for both involved road users.
The crash happened during a left turn
The official record says the crash happened at about 9:10 a.m. on May 22, 2024. A driver in a 2007 Chevrolet pickup was traveling west and making a left turn, while the e-bike rider was traveling south and going straight.
amNY reported that police described the pickup driver as heading in the opposite direction from the rider before turning left onto 53rd Street. Police said the rider then crashed into the pickup.
The rider died after reaching the hospital
The official record identifies the person killed as a 49-year-old male bicyclist riding an e-bike. Police told amNY the man suffered traumatic injuries to his head and body and was taken to NYU Langone Hospital, where he died.
amNY reported that the 40-year-old pickup driver remained at the scene.
Failure to yield is listed for both road users
The official crash record lists failure to yield right-of-way for both the pickup driver and the e-bike rider. amNY’s police account says the pickup driver turned left onto 53rd Street before the rider crashed into the pickup.
4th Avenue has a recent record of severe crashes
The crash happened at 4th Avenue and 53rd Street in Sunset Park. CrashCountNYC’s street context for 4th Avenue in Brooklyn counts 2,076 crashes, 1,379 injuries, 78 serious injuries and 10 deaths since 2022.
Advocates pointed to the design of the corridor
Transportation Alternatives told amNY that a protected bike lane on 4th Avenue had been taken out of service by ongoing capital work and that the bike lane “vanishes” at the intersection, creating conflict zones. The group called for safety upgrades, including narrower road space to discourage speeding and turn-calming measures for left turns.