E-bike rider dies after Central Park crosswalk collision
Salvador Nico-Garcia, 43, died after he collided with a pedestrian in a Central Park crosswalk and struck his head on a curb; the official record placed the crash at East Drive and the 97th Street Transverse.
What We Know
On June 18, 2025, Salvador Nico-Garcia was riding an e-bike in Central Park when he collided with a 41-year-old pedestrian who was in a crosswalk, according to press accounts citing police. Reporters said Nico-Garcia was thrown and struck his head on a curb; he was taken to Mount Sinai Morningside and died there. The official record logged the crash at East Drive and the 97th Street Transverse, with one bicyclist killed and one pedestrian injured. Most records and press accounts identified Nico-Garcia as 43; the Daily News reported him as 47. The NYPD Highway District Collision Investigation Squad was investigating, and West Side Spirit reported that no arrests had been made.
What police described
Police told reporters that Nico-Garcia was riding an e-bike in Central Park shortly before 6 p.m. when he collided with a 41-year-old pedestrian who was using or crossing at a crosswalk. West Side Spirit and the Daily News placed the collision at East Drive near East 97th Street; ABC7 described it as near 96th Street and East Drive.
Press accounts said Nico-Garcia was thrown from the e-bike and struck his head on a curb. The official record lists one bicyclist killed and one pedestrian injured.
East Drive through Central Park
The official record places the crash in Manhattan at East Drive and the 97th Street Transverse in Central Park. West Side Spirit and the Daily News reported East Drive near East 97th Street, while ABC7 reported the location as near 96th Street and East Drive.
ABC7 reported that pedestrians have the right of way at all times in Central Park.
The rider and pedestrian
Authorities identified the rider who died as Salvador Nico-Garcia, a Bronx resident. The official record, West Side Spirit and ABC7 identified him as 43; the Daily News reported him as 47.
The pedestrian was described in press accounts as 41. West Side Spirit reported a minor left-hand abrasion and said the pedestrian refused treatment at the scene; ABC7 and the Daily News also described minor hand injuries.
E-bike details in the record
The official record lists an Arrow e-bike with one occupant, traveling north and going straight ahead before the crash. ABC7 reported that Nico-Garcia was not wearing a helmet and noted that New York does not require bicyclists over 14 to wear one.
Emergency response and investigation
West Side Spirit reported that EMS responded to a 911 call at about 5:47 p.m. and rushed Nico-Garcia to Mount Sinai Morningside in critical condition. ABC7 reported that he was pronounced dead just before 7 p.m.
West Side Spirit reported that the NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad was investigating and that no arrests had been made.