Two teenagers on a Citi Bike were struck by a large hydrovac truck in Manhattan's East Village around 9 p.m. on Sept. 18. Fifteen-year-old Daria Serkov died at Bellevue Hospital; a 16-year-old girl who police say was operating the bike is hospitalized in stable condition. Video shows the bicycle trapped under the truck, and the NYPD Highway Patrol is investigating. City guidance warns cyclists about large trucks' blind spots, though authorities have not confirmed a cause.
15-Year-Old Daria Serkov Killed After Hydrovac Truck Crushes Citi Bike In East Village
Image Credit: Eyewitness News / YouTube.
A Friday evening bicycle ride in Manhattan's East Village turned tragic when a large hydrovac truck collided with a Citi Bike carrying two teenage riders, crushing the bike and sending both teens to the hospital. Authorities identified the deceased on Saturday as 15-year-old Daria Serkov.
What Happened
The collision occurred at about 9 p.m. on Sept. 18 at the intersection of East 14th Street and First Avenue. According to police and local media reports, a 2021 Peterbilt hydrovac truck — described in footage as a Badger-branded hydro excavation vehicle — was traveling west on East 14th Street and turned right onto First Avenue at the same time the Citi Bike was also turning north. Video from the scene shows the bicycle lodged beneath the truck; responders also found a shoe under the vehicle.
Victims and Response
Both teenagers were taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. Daria Serkov was pronounced dead at the hospital. The surviving rider, later identified as a 16-year-old girl, remained hospitalized in stable condition. Early reports contained conflicting details about who was operating the bicycle; police later clarified that the 16-year-old was the operator and Serkov was the passenger.
Vehicle, Investigation And Safety Context
Spectrum News NY1 reported the truck was a 2021 Peterbilt driven by a 58-year-old man who remained at the scene. NYPD Highway Patrol is investigating the crash; as of the latest reports no arrests had been made. ABC7 and other outlets described the vehicle as a hydrovac (hydro excavation) truck, equipment designed to loosen soil with pressurized water and vacuum the resulting slurry into a large tank — which explains the vehicle's prominent tanks and apparatus.
Safety Note: The NYC Department of Transportation warns cyclists not to pass large vehicles while they are turning due to substantial blind spots. Police have not publicly confirmed whether a blind spot or another factor caused this collision.
The investigation is ongoing. Authorities continue to review video and witness accounts to determine the precise sequence of events that led to the crash.
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