A 15-year-old girl was killed when a private garbage truck crashed into several people in Manhattan’s crowded, nightlife-heavy East Village.
The unidentified teenager died after the truck struck a group at the intersection of 14th Street and First Avenue while making a right turn at about 9 p.m. Friday, according to NBC 4 New York.
She had been riding a Citi Bike with her 13-year-old friend when the heavy-duty truck struck them, leaving the older girl trapped beneath the vehicle.
“The police went and then tried to shake her, but she wasn’t responsive,” one witness told the outlet.
“And then, a bunch of police came in. They pulled her and then they pulled that person out and they gave that person CPR for about 10 minutes,” the witness said. “There was no response.”
Tony Roman, a doorman at nearby O’Hanlon’s Bar, told the New York Daily News that the collision appeared to have left both girls seriously hurt.
“The truck hit both of them,” Roman, 59, told the newspaper.
“The one underneath the truck, the body and bike, both looked mangled. The other one, a girl, was on the floor sitting up,” he said. “It was scary, the city is no place for bikes.”
A 15-year-old girl was killed when a sanitation truck struck a crowd while turning right at 14th Street and First Avenue in Manhattan’s East Village on Friday night
The teenager was riding a Citi Bike with her 13-year-old friend when she became trapped beneath the large truck
The 13-year-old girl was also injured. A bystander said she was taken to a hospital with serious leg and pelvic injuries, according to a post on X
The girl’s 13-year-old friend was also injured, with a bystander revealing that she was taken to Bellevue Hospital with severe injuries to her leg and pelvis, according to a post on X. The Daily News reported that she is expected to survive.
Disturbing images from the scene showed a major emergency response, with at least six ambulances reportedly sent to the intersection.
“I heard a loud sound, like a scream,” a 22-year-old witness told the Daily News.
“The truck had run over them. It looked like two women. One of the women on the bike was crushed under the truck. They were giving her CPR and pumping her chest. The other one on the other side was lifted into an ambulance,” the witness said.
“It didn’t look good. It was crazy. There were cops everywhere.”
Video from the aftermath showed police officers and firefighters surrounding the area as crime-scene tape was quickly placed around the privately owned truck, which remained stopped in the roadway.
The wreckage of a blue Citi Bike was visible beneath one of the truck’s huge wheels. A single Puma sneaker had also been left on the nearby pavement.
The deadly East Village crash occurred as the private, city-independent garbage truck traveled west along 14th Street before attempting to turn right onto First Avenue, an area known for its late-night party atmosphere.
The wrecked remains of a blue Citi Bike lie crushed beneath one of the truck’s huge wheels
Hours after the collision, detectives continued examining the usually busy street as traffic backed up around the scene
The intersection is widely known among residents as a dangerous one, particularly for drivers turning right from 14th Street, according to Fox 5 News
The truck driver has not yet been identified by police, but a photo published by the Daily News appears to show officers surrounding a man in a reflective vest, who appeared visibly concerned as he held a phone to his ear.
Detectives were still swarming the normally lively street hours later, examining evidence as traffic continued to pile up around the scene.
The NYPD said the truck driver, who remained at the scene, was being questioned as they launched an investigation into the deadly crash, according to NBC.
Multiple city cameras at the intersection are believed to have captured the crash and could provide crucial evidence for investigators, including which vehicle had the right of way, police said.
The truck was operated by Badger Daylighting, a Bronx-based company that specializes in hydrovac excavation, according to the NY Daily News.
Police shut down several blocks of First Avenue from 13th Street following the crash, with no word yet on when the scene will be cleared.
The intersection is widely known among residents as a dangerous one, particularly for drivers turning right from 14th Street, according to Fox 5 News.
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