Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Streetsblog

Badly Repaired Road Implicated in Crash that Killed a Senior Cyclist in Elmhurst

The cyclist may have hit this road defect, which Google photographed in October. Photo: Google

This one is on the city.

A Queens cyclist died after getting knocked off his bike after he hit a rough patch of badly repaired road on a residential street in Elmhurst late on Thursday night.

According to the NYPD, the cyclist, Lin Wen-Chiang, was riding westbound on one-block-long 40th Drive when he "rode over a rode obstruction," toppled from his bike, struck his head and died.

Archival photos of the crash site show that at least through October 2021, a large patch of roadway was, indeed, damaged by city workers or an outside contractor working under the authority of the city sometime after October, 2019:

Before (October, 2019) and after (October, 2021). Photos: Google (Note, lighter patch in photo on the left is due to covering over Google's street name labeling.)
Before (October, 2019) and after (October, 2021). Photos: Google
Before (October, 2019) and after (October, 2021). Photos: Google (Note, lighter patch in photo on the left is due to covering over Google's street name labeling.)

Wen-Chiang is the third cyclist to die on New York City streets this year, part of an excessively bloody first two months of the Adams administration. Through Feb. 24, at least 35 people have died on the roads, up from 25 over the same period last year — and last year was the most deadly for road violence in the entire de Blasio administration.

The vast majority of the dead this year are pedestrians, with 20 killed so far this year, up from 15 over the same period last year.

Chart: DOT
Chart: DOT
Chart: DOT

This is a breaking story and will be updated shortly.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Wednesday’s Headlines: Trip and Fall Edition

OK, so I fell on my face. Be nice. I'm old. Plus other news.

November 13, 2024

DOT Celebrates A Decade of Safety Improvements on Queens Blvd.

The former "Boulevard of Death" now has protected bike lanes running for nearly its entire length.

November 13, 2024

DOT Asks Judge to Dismiss Streetsblog’s Lawsuit over Agency’s Public Info Stall

The DOT is arguing that its slow response time before providing or not providing information is "reasonable."

November 12, 2024

Tuesday’s Headline: Six-Figure Ad Buy Edition

Congestion pricing supporters call Gov. Hochul out with a six-figure ad buy. Plus more news.

November 12, 2024

DOT: Tremont Ave. Busway to Be Installed in Spring

The 0.6-mile busway will only allow trucks and buses to use the entire stretch, while car drivers will need to leave the street at the first available turn.

November 11, 2024
See all posts