E-bike rider strikes, kills 49-year-old pedestrian in Brooklyn

Luis Cruz was crossing Franklin Street near India Street in Greenpoint at approximately 7:40 pm when he was hit by a 26-year-old man on an e-bike. The impact threw Cruz to the ground, causing a severe head injury. He was transported by EMS to Bellevue Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Cruz lived in Brooklyn, about a mile from where the accident took place.

The e-bike rider remained at the scene, and no criminal charges have been immediately filed. Law enforcement has not yet determined how fast the rider was traveling at the time of the collision.

Authorities noted that as of Thursday, two people have been killed in e-bike crashes this year, two fewer than at the same time last year. City data shows that in 2023, e-bike fatalities significantly outpaced those involving traditional bicycles, with 23 deaths compared to seven. Most of these incidents involved the rider being killed in a single-vehicle crash. Pedestrian fatalities caused by e-bikes remain relatively rare.

In response to growing safety concerns, the city launched a $1 million e-bike safety campaign last year to address the rising number of fatal crashes.

“With bicycle ridership reaching historic levels, we must use every tool available to give new and experienced cyclists the resources they need to bike safely,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez at the time of the campaign’s announcement. “Whether its building new protected bike lanes or educating New Yorkers these crucial skills on-the-ground.”