A 50-year-old man riding an illegally modified e-bike died after failing to stop at a red light and crashing into a pickup truck at a Bronx intersection, police said Thursday.
The victim was riding his e-bike on E. 145th St. when he entered the intersection at Brook Ave. in Mott Haven against a red light and slammed into the front driver’s side door of a Ford F-150 pickup truck heading south on Brook Ave. around 8:20 a.m. Wednesday, cops said.
He was thrown from the bike onto the pavement and suffered a severe head injury, police said. Medics rushed him to Lincoln Hospital, where he died. His name was not immediately disclosed.
The 55-year-old truck driver stayed at the scene following the crash. Police said he had a green light as he passed through the intersection.
Officials said the victim’s e-bike had been illegally modified to go faster than initially designed.
Late last month, the City Council held a marathon hearing to discuss 23 bills about e-bikes and delivery workers who use e-bikes. Among the bills was a proposal to outlaw the use of e-bikes that travel faster than 20 mph.
The hearing was held just two days after a 50-year-old woman riding her e-bike died after she collided with a dump truck on W. 34th St. near Seventh Ave., just down the street from Madison Square Garden and the Empire State Building, cops said.
On Sept. 18, 15-year-old Daria Serkov died when her Citi Bike e-bike was struck by a turning Peterbilt truck at the corner of First Ave. and E. 14th St.
Daria was seated behind her 16-year-old friend, who was operating the e-bike. The Citi Bike rental agreement requires riders to be at least 16 years old and states the bikes are for use by one rider only, officials said.