A 43-year-old jogger is in a medically induced coma after being struck by an e-bike rider in Central Park on July 7. The cyclist was allegedly traveling the wrong way on a running path when he collided with the jogger, identified by her first name, Jean, according to her family and a witness.
Jean suffered severe head injuries, requiring emergency cranial surgery from which a portion of her skull was removed. She also sustained a broken elbow and deep lacerations necessitating skin grafts. Over a week after the incident, she remains unresponsive, according to her niece, Brandi Wiltse. "She was pretty much unconscious, non-responsive," witness Hoon Chan Sim recounted.
The cyclist, a 26-year-old man, remained at the scene, but the NYPD has not confirmed if he faces any charges or if an investigation is ongoing. Wiltse stated that police informed her the accident was no longer under investigation, a claim she disputes, particularly regarding the witness accounts of the cyclist traveling against traffic.
"After this, the fact that there is no accountability, there’s no registration requirement, there’s no insurance … There should be laws in place," Wiltse said, expressing frustration over the lack of consequences for the e-bike rider. She is advocating for stricter regulations on e-bikes, noting their speed and quiet operation contribute to their danger.
This incident occurs amidst a rise in collisions involving e-bikes in New York City. Data shows 514 e-bike collisions this year, resulting in nine fatalities. This contrasts with 384 collisions and six fatalities during the same period in the previous year. The cyclist, described by a witness as appearing to be a courier, allegedly attempted to leave the scene but was detained by bystanders until first responders arrived.
Wiltse has launched an online fundraising page to assist Jean with rent and travel expenses for visiting relatives. She hopes Jean's case will serve as a cautionary tale about the potential dangers posed by fast-moving e-bikes. "E-bikes can reach speeds of 20+ mph, require no registration or insurance, and are nearly silent on approach. They cause serious injuries daily and there is a general lack of accountability," Wiltse wrote.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani previously issued an executive order in March that ended criminal enforcement for certain low-level e-bike violations, shifting the focus to civil tickets. This policy change has drawn criticism and is currently the subject of a lawsuit by victims who argue it has emboldened dangerous e-bike riding and compromised public safety.