SI Teen Critical after Bicycle Accident
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A 16-year-old girl struck head-on by a vehicle in Staten Island lies in a hospital bed in critical condition. New York City police accident investigators said that the girl was riding her bike westerly on New Dorp Lane and tried to take a left-hand turn onto Titus Avenue when a Kia heading easterly on New Dorp Lane hit her. The New York Daily News said that the incident occurred around 4:10 on a Sunday afternoon. Rescuers rushed the teen to Staten Island University Hospital North, where she remains in critical condition.
New York City Police have not charged the driver with a crime or moving violation to this point. They are still investigating. Hopefully, the 16-year-old young woman pulls through. Tragically, 21 other pedal cyclists perished in collisions with motor vehicles in 2019 so far in New York City. The number could rise before the end of the year. Right now, the 2019 totals are more than double of last year’s bicycle crash death toll. Ten people died in accidents with motor vehicles while riding bicycles in New York City in 2018. The shocking rise in bicycle rider deaths prompted advocates to call out for sweeping changes to help protect bike riders in the City.
The Gothamist discussed a report completed by a group called Localize.city announcing the 12 most-dangerous intersections in New York City for bike riders as well as pedestrians. Localize.city analyzed the neighborhoods in New York City and determined that people are three times more likely to be killed when walking or riding in those 12 most-dangerous areas.
Staten Island had two areas out of the 12 most-dangerous areas. One of the areas is the St. George/Tompkinsville area, which runs from Jersey to Bay Streets, between Victory Boulevard and Fort Place/Taft Avenue. The other dangerous area in Staten Island is the Stapleton section. Stapleton runs to Bay and Van Duzer Street in between Wright Street to Tompkins Street.
