E-bike rider killed in crash by U.N. on First Avenue
Jason Galindo, 32, was killed at First Avenue and East 45th Street on Jan. 13, 2026, after police said he lost control while riding north in the bike lane and hit a barrier near the U.N.
What We Know
Jason Galindo, 32, was killed on Jan. 13, 2026, while riding an e-bike at First Avenue and East 45th Street in Midtown Manhattan. City crash data records the fatal crash at 10:23 p.m. and lists one cyclist killed, with no other injuries. Police told reporters Galindo was riding north in the First Avenue bike lane when he lost control and hit a barrier near the United Nations, suffering severe head trauma before medics took him to Bellevue Hospital. Press reports citing police described the e-bike as an illegal, high-speed HappyRun G100 Pro capable of 50 mph; city crash data identified the e-bike as a HappyRun G100 and cited driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor.
Police said Galindo lost control in the bike lane
City crash data records the fatal crash at First Avenue and East 45th Street in Manhattan at 10:23 p.m. on Jan. 13, 2026. The record lists one cyclist killed and no other people injured.
Police told reporters Jason Galindo was riding north in the First Avenue bike lane near the United Nations when he lost control and hit a barrier. The Daily News reported the crash happened around 10:03 p.m. Tuesday; Our Town described it as shortly after 10 p.m. and also published a Jan. 12 reference while elsewhere saying Jan. 13.
First Avenue has a long record of serious crashes
The crash happened at First Avenue and East 45th Street in Midtown Manhattan, near the United Nations Headquarters.
Across the First Avenue corridor in Manhattan, CrashCountNYC recorded 2,522 crashes, 1,527 injuries, 137 serious injuries and 12 deaths from the start of 2022 through June 1, 2026.
Jason Galindo was remembered in Queens
Police identified the cyclist as Jason Galindo, 32, of Elmhurst, Queens. Our Town reported that he was active in the local community, attended Hunter College, trained extensively with weights and had run an alcohol-awareness program for a Queens parish.
Our Town reported that a funeral Mass was scheduled for Jan. 20 at St. Bartholomew Church in Elmhurst, followed by burial at St. John's Cemetery in Middle Village. The Jackson Heights Beautification Group posted condolences to his family and friends.
Reports focused on the e-bike's speed capability
City crash data identified the e-bike as a HappyRun G100 traveling north and going straight before the crash, with one rider aboard.
Police told reporters the e-bike was a HappyRun G100 Pro Electric Bicycle capable of reaching 50 mph. The Daily News and Our Town reported that police described it as illegal or high-speed, and noted that city rules bar e-bikes, e-scooters and pedal-assist bicycles from exceeding 15 mph on city streets.
The city record cited driver inattention
The official crash record listed driver inattention or distraction as a contributing factor. Press accounts, citing police, separately emphasized loss of control and the e-bike's reported speed capability.
Medics took Galindo to Bellevue
Police told reporters Galindo suffered severe head trauma. Medics took him to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, where he died.