EAST VILLAGE, New York (WABC) — Calls are growing to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety after a 15-year-old girl was killed while on an electric Citi Bike in Manhattan.
Transit advocates say she is the 13th child killed in traffic this year in New York City, which is twice as many compared to this point last year.
Friends and classmates gathered after school to mourn Daria Serkov, leaving flowers and other tributes at a growing memorial. A vigil was also held Saturday night at the site of the crash.
Serkov, an 11th grader at the Lab School, was riding a Citi Bike with a friend around 9 p.m. Friday when the bike collided with a truck that was turning onto First Avenue from 14th Street.
In a statement released by her parents, they said:
“Our beloved Daria, our Dasha, was full of love, joy, and energy … We will carry her light, her compassion, and the love she gave us in our hearts always.”
The crash is drawing renewed attention to traffic safety concerns at the intersection of 14th Street and First Avenue.
“This was the 13th child to be killed in traffic on New York City’s streets just so far this year. That’s double the number of children that were killed by this point last year. So that’s a very, very disturbing trend,” said Charlie Baker, a spokesperson for Transportation Alternatives.
Residents said they have repeatedly raised concerns about safety at the intersection.
“We call 311; when there are elections, we always bring it up, and yet nothing ever gets done,” one East Village resident said.
A second girl involved in the crash, a 16-year-old, remained hospitalized in stable condition. The truck driver remained at the scene and had not been charged as of Monday.
———-
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts on the go
* Download our connected TV app
Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness News
Have a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.
Copyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.