The twin sister and family of teen Citi Bike crash victim Daria Serkov were dining with friends, eating Mexican food and playing games, when a phone call shattered their joyful night, a family friend told the Daily News.
“This is a parent’s worst nightmare,” said Christine Janssen, a friend of 15-year-old Daria’s mother, at a candlelight vigil for the victim Saturday night. “No parent ever wants to or deserves to go through that.”
Daria Serkov. (GoFundMe)
Daria was riding on the back of an electric Citi Bike in the East Village, as a 16-year-old friend pedaled and steered, inching alongside a 2021 Peterbilt truck as it stopped on E. 14th St. about 9 p.m. Friday,video obtained by the Daily News shows.
The truck had its turn signal on and made a right turn onto First Ave. just as the girls were also turning right.
The bike didn’t make as sharp a turn as the driver and the truck hit their bike. The crash killed Daria and left her friend injured.
Video footage obtained by the Daily News shows the two girls riding on a Citi Bike moments before being struck by the truck pictured behind them. (Obtained by Daily News)
“All our families were all together, just having Mexican night and tacos and tequila and playing games,” Janssen said. “Everybody was there, except for Daria. And then we got the call later that night. It was just surreal.”
After getting the news, Janssen raced to Bellevue Hospital with Daria’s mom, Irina Serkov, and the victim’s twin sister, Greta.
“We were there till about 3:30 (Saturday) morning,” she said. “Going through that whole process last night was like a front row seat to just an awful experience.”
Later Saturday, Janssen joined about 100 people, most of them teens, for a tearful candellight tribute to Daria at the site of the crash.
Friends gather to mourn victim Daria Serkov at the site of the crash on E. 14th St. and First Ave. in Manhattan on Saturday. (Julian Roberts-Grmela / New York Daily News)
Daria “marched to her own beat,” Janssen recounted. “She’s sassy, spicy, just really spice of life…. Very spicy go-getter. Just like, get out of my way, on a mission.”
Daria attended high school in Manhattan and played soccer for the Lady Gators.
Her social media posts show her at an event at MetLife stadium, embracing smiling friends, attending concerts, on ski trips and visiting Miami and Spain.
“Daria, I don’t even know how to put into words how much you meant to me. Calling you my best friend never felt like enough, because you were so much more than that,” wrote one of her teammates on Instagram. “You were family. You were someone I could laugh with, cry with, talk to about anything, and simply be myself around.”
GoFundMe
Daria Serkov. (GoFundMe)
“I’ve never imagined having to live in a world where you weren’t here,” the friend added. “There are so many things I wish I could tell you! I would give anything to hug you once more. I love you and already miss you so much… you will never ever be forgotten … life will never be the same without.”
Janssen organized the vigil at the behest of her own daughter.
‘“My daughter came out here this morning and there was nothing here, not a single flower. And she kind of flipped out at that,’ Janssen said. “I just wanted people to get together. It’s the very least we can do…. It’s just important for this community to know that she was one of our own.”
A makeshift memorial of flowers is seen at the site of the Citi Bike crash that killed Daria Serkov in Manhattan. (Julian Roberts-Grmela / New York Daily News)
Janssen also created a GoFundMe to support the victim’s family.
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, who left a bouquet of flowers at the memorial, said the other girl on the Citi Bike is “battling to stay alive.”
“It’s an unspeakable tragedy, a young girl, my daughter’s age, lost her life here,” Hoylman-Sigal said. “It’s really hard to imagine what her friends and her family members are going through.”
Bicycling advocates from Transportation Alternatives said cyclists rolling past that corner are in danger of being struck by turning vehicles as they cross the avenue to get to the dedicated bike lane.
On Saturday, Hoylman-Sigal echoed their calls for more bike safety.
“We need to work to improve safety on all of our streets,” he said. “There are steps that we can take, certainly, to ensure that there are more protected bike lanes for cyclists, for young people who are just trying to have a good time with their friends.”