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

Street Safety Foe Paladino Joins the War on Cars After Queens Hot Wheels Mob Turns Violent

The longtime critic of street safety measures demanded action — but her proposed solution, speed bumps, wouldn't make much of a difference.

November 24, 2025

Republican Signs On To Super Speeder Bill, After Defending Reckless Driving

A Brooklyn politican who defended speeding at a funeral for victims of traffic violence now supports preventive legislation.

November 24, 2025

Money for Something: Uber is Driving The Race for City Council Speaker

What does Uber expect to receive in return for $250,000 in donations to two Council Speaker candidates?

November 24, 2025

‘The Permanence Agenda’: Paint and Plastic Won’t Deliver Real Street Safety

DOT’s quick-build approach to redesigning streets with paint and other temporary materials has worked well enough — but Mayor-elect Mamdani should aim for permanence.

November 24, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: Cartoon Bromance Edition

The president and the mayor were all smiles, but lots of Streetsbloggy topics were discussed in the Oval, as it turns out. Plus other news.

November 24, 2025

NIMBY-Mania: Middle Village Has a Love-Hate Relationship with the IBX

The idea of making it easier to reach Middle Village clearly put some Middle Villagers on edge.

November 23, 2025
See all posts