Cyclist on an electric bike tragically impacts an open car door in Queens, police report, discovering that incidents involving e-bikes are increasing across the city.

Bicyclist meets fatal accident after colliding with an unattended car door during morning traffic congestion in Queens last month.

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2025 September 16 . 11:27 PM

2 min read

E-bike user tragically crashes into an open car door in Queens, authorities report a rise in e-bike... — E-bike user tragically crashes into an open car door in Queens, authorities report a rise in e-bike accidents across the city

Cyclist on an electric bike tragically impacts an open car door in Queens, police report, discovering that incidents involving e-bikes are increasing across the city.

In the bustling streets of Queens, New York, an unfortunate incident occurred on Monday, Aug. 25, at around 8:25 a.m. A 32-year-old man named Vikas was riding an e-bike southbound on Lefferts Boulevard when he collided with an open car door near Lefferts Boulevard and Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill.

The car involved in the collision was a 2017 Mercedes-Benz GLC, driven by a 46-year-old man. Upon impact, Vikas was thrown off the e-bike and landed on the roadway, sustaining a head injury. EMS responded to the incident and transported Vikas to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, but he was later pronounced dead.

The man in the Mercedes-Benz remained at the scene after the incident. As of the current year, there have been 540 e-bike collisions citywide, an increase of over 30% compared to the same period in 2024 (414 collisions). This worrying trend is reflected in the NYPD's latest traffic statistics, which show a significant increase in e-bike collisions since July 23, when there were 401 collisions compared to 330 during the same period last year.

The NYPD Traffic Division, together with the New York City Department of Transportation, will be investigating the cause of the fatal accident on Lefferts Boulevard. If necessary, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) could be involved, but this is rather rare for single vehicle accidents. The NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad is continuing its inquiry into the incident.

It's worth noting that overall collisions involving motorized two-wheeled devices (including mopeds and e-bikes) are down over 13% year to date this year compared to the same period in 2024.

This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety, particularly for e-bike riders. As the number of e-bike collisions continues to rise, it is crucial for all road users to exercise caution and adhere to traffic rules to ensure the safety of everyone on the road.