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

Friday’s Headlines: City of Yes Edition

There was only one story yesterday: The embattled mayor succeeded in passing what might become the signature initiative of his one term. But there was other news, too.

November 22, 2024

Analysis: Mayor Gets the ‘W,’ But Council Turns His Zoning Plan into ‘City Of Yes … Sort Of’

The City Council took a crucial step towards passing City of Yes, but it also let low density areas opt out of much of the plan.

November 22, 2024

Five Ways New NYPD Boss Jessica Tisch Can Fix Our Dangerous Streets

If the Sanitation Commissioner wants to use her new position to make city streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, here's where she can start.

November 21, 2024

What Do the Mayoral Candidates Think Of ‘City of Yes’?

Too bad for Hizzoner that challengers Zellnor Myrie, Brad Lander, Scott Stringer, Jessica Ramos and Zohran Mamdani — all Democrats — aren't on the Council. 

November 21, 2024
See all posts