Cyclist Killed By Truck Driver In Chelsea, Cops Say

CHELSEA, NY — A truck driver hit and killed a cyclist in Chelsea Monday morning, NYPD said.

The cyclist was hit at Sixth Avenue between 23rd and 24th Street in Chelsea about 9:25 a.m., police said.

The bike rider, 20, was found unconscious lying in the road and was rushed to Bellevue Hospital and pronounced dead, police said.

The truck driver, in a white Freightliner delivery truck, initially drove off, but he returned to the scene soon after, police said. Police issued the driver, 54, with five summonses.

Previously, police said the person who was hit was a 33-year-old pedestrian. About 11:20 a.m., an NYPD spokesperson told Patch the person was a cyclist.

The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating the incident, police said.

An NYPD Vision Zero van was stationed at the intersection Monday after 1 p.m. playing a recording over a loud speaker about cycling safety for motorists and cyclists.

It was later revealed cyclist was Robyn Hightman. Their death marked the 11th cyclist killed in New York City, the Department of Transportation confirmed.

Transportation Alternatives said in a statement, "Vision Zero remains in a crisis, and this latest preventable tragedy is further evidence that Mayor Bill de Blasio is failing to protect the people of New York City from even the most basic dangers."

"His absence in presenting real solutions to this crisis is palpable, with devastating results," TransAlt's statement said. The group blasted trucks on city streets and enforcement issues for large tractor-trailer trucks, adding smaller vans and e-cargo bikes for delivery would be safer.

Preliminary statement from us on the cyclist killed by a truck driver this morning near 6th Avenue and 23rd Street in Manhattan: pic.twitter.com/M89P9Q9FYq
— Transportation Alternatives (@TransAlt) June 24, 2019

DOT referred to City Hall for comment. City Hall did not immediately respond to comment.

This article has been updated with the cyclist's name, Robyn Hightman, and their pronouns. They used "they" and "them" pronouns.