New York City, New York — A 15-year-old girl was killed and another teenager was hospitalized after an excavation truck struck the two girls while they were riding together on a bike in Manhattan Friday night, police said.
The crash happened at about 9 p.m. near East 14th Street and First Avenue, when the teens, ages 15 and 13, were traveling west on East 14th Street. Police said the truck was turning north onto First Avenue when it collided with the girls.
Both teenagers were taken to Bellevue Hospital following the crash. The 15-year-old was pronounced dead, while the 13-year-old remained in stable condition.
Truck Struck Teens During Turn
According to the NYPD, the girls were riding on the same bike when they were hit by the excavation truck.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene immediately after the collision, with bystanders rushing toward the victims and emergency crews arriving shortly afterward.
One witness said people nearby were “screaming at the truck, ‘stop, stop, stop’”, but the driver apparently did not hear them.
The witness, who declined to provide his name, said the aftermath was “dramatic” as he ran toward the scene to help.
“Two bystanders were trying to pull the girl on the right side out from under the wheel. Then the cops came and told them to stop because they could cause her more damage,” he said.
He said the girl was bleeding and that blood was visible beneath the vehicle as emergency responders worked to help her.
Firefighters Performed CPR at Scene
The witness said the emergency response quickly intensified as firefighters arrived and began treating the critically injured teenager.
“The girl was bleeding. The blood was leaking towards the other side of the vehicle,” the witness said.
He added that he “saw the fire department come, doing CPR on the girl. Then the cops told everyone to walk away.”
Another witness, Bdin Puangsawasdi, who owns Kati Thai restaurant on East 14th Street, said he rushed outside after his wife heard a “loud noise” from the intersection.
Puangsawasdi told The Post that he saw the truck driver emerge from the vehicle.
“I saw the truck driver come out and he was crying uncontrollably,” Puangsawasdi recalled.
He said police attempted to check on the injured girl and eventually pulled her from beneath the truck.
Puangsawasdi, 60, said firefighters performed CPR on the teenager for roughly 10 minutes, but he did not see a response.
“A lot of blood was coming out.”
Citi Bike Appeared Pinned Beneath Truck
An electric Citi Bike was visible beneath one of the truck’s tires following the collision.
The crash left witnesses shaken as emergency responders worked at the busy Manhattan intersection.
The unnamed witness said the incident should serve as a warning about the dangers facing cyclists and pedestrians at busy intersections.
“I feel sad and sorry for the little girl and her family to see her pass away in this tragic way,” the witness said.
He added:
“It should bring more awareness to look more. This could be prevented a hundred times,” he sighed. “We have to be more aware.”
The witness also suggested that a traffic officer should be stationed at the intersection because, in his view, the truck driver did not see the two girls.
Restaurant Owner Recalls Earlier Concerns
Puangsawasdi said he had previously been concerned about the amount of dangerous activity involving cyclists around the intersection.
“I knew something like this was gonna happen because this is a big intersection [with] a lot of reckless bicyclists.”
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Despite his criticism of the area’s traffic conditions, Puangsawasdi said his thoughts were primarily with the teenager who lost her life.
“I feel very bad. She has her full life ahead of her,” he said of the 15-year-old.
The truck driver works for Badger hydro-excavation, according to reports.
A company spokesperson said Badger was cooperating with investigators.
“We are devastated by the loss of this young life and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“Our thoughts are with all those impacted, and we are grateful to the emergency responders who provided care and assistance at the scene.”
The NYPD investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deadly collision remains ongoing.
What do you think can be done to make busy NYC intersections safer for cyclists and pedestrians? Share your thoughts in the comments.