A 26-year-old man riding a gas-powered moped died after a Department of Sanitation garbage truck smashed into him in Queens, police said Friday.
Both vehicles were traveling westbound on Bushwick Ave. in East Williamsburg around 9:30 a.m. when the 20-year-old garbage truck driver plowed into the moped rider while trying to turn right onto Flushing Ave., according to police.
Medics rushed the young moped rider to Elmhurst Hospital in critical condition, where doctors pronounced him dead.
His identity is being withheld pending family notification.
The driver of the garbage truck — which appeared to be brand new — remained at the scene, cops said. So far there have been no arrests as police continue to investigate.
The collision was the second of three fatal accidents in the city Friday. Earlier in the morning in the Bronx, a 22-year-old man riding as a passenger on a Razor Racer electric bike operated by a 24-year-old man died after they collided with an oil truck at the intersection of Southern Blvd. and Bruckner Blvd., according to police.
Then, around 2 p.m. in Queens, a 70-year-old man died when the MTA Q52 accordion bus he was waiting for hit him after he stumbled into the roadway while trying to get up from his walker as the bus approached near Hoffman Dr. and Woodhaven Blvd. in Elmhurst.
Two more fatal collisions happened within 24 hours in the Big Apple on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing the total this week to five deaths from traffic accidents.
Traffic and pedestrian safety was a major talking point at Thursday night’s mayoral debate.
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