Bicyclist Strikes E-Scooter Rider in Brooklyn; Rider Dies
Police said a 47-year-old bicyclist entering the Schermerhorn Street bike lane from between parked cars struck e-scooter rider Thomas Bakas near Smith Street on September 7, 2026; Bakas died at a hospital.
Reported by press, not yet linked to NYC police crash records. This may change when new official records become available or when matching details are reviewed.
Approximate reported location.
What We Know
Police said a 47-year-old bicyclist entered the two-way bike lane on Schermerhorn Street from between parked cars and struck Thomas Bakas, 77, who was riding an e-scooter in the opposite direction. The head-on collision happened near Smith Street at about 2:20 p.m. on September 7, 2026. Medics took Bakas to New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he died. The bicyclist remained at the scene and faced no immediate charges. Bakas lived about three blocks away; his building's doorman said he used the scooter to travel between home and a van holding tools for his work building walk-in freezers.
The head-on collision
Police said a 47-year-old bicyclist entered the two-way bike lane from between two parked cars and struck Thomas Bakas, who was riding an e-scooter in the opposite direction. Both men were thrown. Medics took Bakas to New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, where he died.
Near Bakas's home in Downtown Brooklyn
The collision happened at about 2:20 p.m. on September 7, 2026, in the two-way bike lane on Schermerhorn Street near Smith Street. Bakas lived about three blocks from the site.
Thomas Bakas's work and music
Bakas was 77. His building's doorman said Bakas used his scooter to get between home and a van where he kept tools and supplies for building walk-in freezers for supermarkets. On Instagram, Bakas described himself as a husband, business owner, musician, songwriter and music producer.
At the scene
The bicyclist stayed at the scene and faced no immediate charges, police said.