A 61-year-old man riding an e‑bike through Owl’s Head Park in Bay Ridge died after striking a fallen tree branch on a bike path, police said.
According to officers, the rider hit the downed limb on May 29, was thrown from his bike and suffered a severe head injury. First responders rushed him to NYU Langone Hospital, where he died on June 5.
Police records and local collision logs indicate the crash happened on the greenway behind Owl’s Head Park, near Shore Road and 68th Street, when the e‑bike struck a fallen bough and the rider was knocked unconscious, according to Crash Count. Medics treated him at the scene before transporting him to the hospital.
As first reported by the New York Daily News, the victim’s name is being withheld until his family can be notified. The outlet noted that police described the injury as a serious wound to the head.
Storm Damage Left Deadly Debris on Park Routes
The crash came on the heels of late May storms that ripped through the region, leaving branches and full trees scattered across city parks, promenades and bike paths. The New York City Parks Department logged hundreds of storm-related calls, including 259 reports of downed trees during one intense system that brought strong winds and hail to parts of the metro area, according to CBS New York.
Those reports highlight what regular park users already know all too well: after a big storm, shared-use paths can turn into obstacle courses, especially for cyclists and e‑bike riders moving at higher speeds.
Safety Warnings and What Officials Say Riders Should Do
City transportation officials say that while e‑bike fatalities have declined in recent counts, the vehicles still present serious risks when riders hit sudden hazards like debris. The latest Vision Zero update from NYC DOT shows e‑bike deaths fell in 2025 compared with 2024.
The agency’s guidance for e‑bike users, detailed by NYC DOT, urges riders to wear helmets and keep speeds in check, especially on shared paths and in parks where visibility can be limited and conditions change quickly.
Research also backs up the helmet message, with a review from Cochrane finding that helmets significantly cut the risk of head and brain injuries in bicycle crashes.
The Bay Ridge crash is a stark reminder that even a single fallen branch can turn deadly on a bike route, and it underscores the need for timely storm cleanup and extra caution from both riders and park managers. Police say the investigation into the incident is ongoing, and the victim’s name remains withheld pending family notification.
