Three die in NYC accidents involving garbage truck, MTA bus, and oil truck within one day.
A tragic incident unfolded in Queens, New York, on Friday, June 13, 2025, when a 26-year-old man riding a gas-powered moped was fatally struck by a Department of Sanitation garbage truck. The collision occurred around 9:30 a.m. while both vehicles were traveling westbound on Bushwick Avenue. Preliminary reports indicate that the garbage truck driver, aged 20, attempted to make a right turn onto Flushing Avenue, resulting in the collision with the moped rider.
Emergency services promptly transported the injured moped operator to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Authorities have not yet released the man’s identity, pending notification of his family. The driver of the garbage truck remained at the scene following the accident, and investigators from the police department are conducting a thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding the incident. As of now, there have been no arrests in connection with this case.
This tragic event was one of three fatal accidents reported in the city on the same day. Earlier that morning, a 22-year-old man was killed while riding as a passenger on a Razor Racer electric bike, which collided with an oil truck at the intersection of Southern Boulevard and Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx. Authorities have classified that incident as another significant traffic fatality in what has been a particularly deadly day on New York City roads.
The series of accidents continued later in the day when a 70-year-old man was fatally injured by an MTA Q52 accordion bus while attempting to cross the road. The man reportedly stumbled as he tried to rise from a walker, with the bus striking him as it approached at the intersection near Hoffman Drive and Woodhaven Boulevard.
These recent incidents have raised urgent discussions regarding traffic safety and pedestrian protection across the city. Their occurrence has prompted renewed calls for enhanced safety measures, particularly in light of growing concerns about road safety in urban environments. Local officials have identified pedestrian safety as a critical issue, which was prominently featured in recent mayoral debates, where candidates discussed strategies to reduce traffic-related fatalities and improve conditions for all road users.
As investigations continue, the broader implications of these fatalities invite scrutiny, not only concerning the actions of individual drivers but also reflecting on the infrastructural and policy-related changes necessary to ensure safer streets in New York City.
