Bicyclist Xi Zheng, 48, Died in Queens Car Accident With Pickup Truck by Sanford Avenue and 160th Street
QUEENS, NEW YORK (January 22, 2026) – A bicyclist identified as Xi Zheng has tragically died in a Queens car accident with a pickup truck near the intersection of Sanford Avenue and 160th Street.
New York City officials are saying that the accident took place around 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Xi Zheng was riding his bicycle to work when he was hit by a Ford F150 truck making a right turn onto Sanford Avenue.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim. He was transported to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Queens.
Despite life-saving measures, Xi Zheng was pronounced dead at the hospital. The truck driver involved in the collision remained at the scene and cooperated with police.
No criminal charges have been filed thus far. The intersection of Sanford Avenue and 160th Street can be especially dangerous for cyclists. Among other things, there are no traffic signals at the intersection.
A full investigation into the deadly Queens bicycle accident remains ongoing
Liability for New York City Bicycle Accidents
All drivers in New York must use caution to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or cyclist in the roadway. According to New York Vehicle Code 1146, “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicyclist, pedestrian, or domestic animal upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary.” Drivers must take certain actions to safeguard the well-being of pedestrians that they come across.
- Blind Spots: Drivers should check their blind spots before making any turns at intersections. Left turns can be particularly dangerous since drivers are often checking for cross traffic and may fail to notice pedestrians.
- Speed: Drivers should reduce their speed in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic. Depending on the prevailing road conditions, a driver may need to travel well below the stated speed limit.
- Alert: Drivers must remain alert at all times and continuously scan the road ahead of them for cyclists and other potential hazards. Far too many accidents involved drivers that are distracted.
If a driver fails to slow down to avoid colliding with any cyclist through the roadway or turns into the path of a cyclist, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Negligence is the failure to operate with the care necessary to avoid causing harm. Car accidents can often be highly complex. In many situations, there could be several liable parties if a pedestrian is injured or killed on the streets of New York City.
Third-Party Liability for New York City Bicycle Accidents
Many cyclists are seriously injured or killed every year in motor vehicle collisions across New York City. According to Transportation Alternatives, “During the first three quarters of 2025, there were 2,303 New Yorkers seriously injured in traffic — including 633 pedestrians, 356 bicyclists (including riders on both electric and acoustic bikes), 1,186 motorists, and 128 other motorists (“other motorists” includes New Yorkers riding mopeds or e-scooters).” There could be many different sources of liability for a collision beyond any particular driver deemed to be at fault.
- Truck Owner: The owner of a pickup truck or other vehicle could be liable for an accident. Generally speaking, vehicle owners can be liable for accidents if they willingly lend their vehicle to another person who is then involved in a collision.
- Business Owner: Pickup trucks and vans are routinely used for commercial purposes throughout the five boroughs of New York City. If a vehicle was being used for commercial purposes at the time of a crash, the employer responsible for the vehicle could be liable. In general, employers can be liable for the wrongful actions of their workers who were operating within the course and scope of their job duties.
- Municipal Entity: In certain situations, a municipal entity like a city or county could be liable for a pedestrian accident if it was the result of a dangerous condition on public property. The dangerous condition must be the proximate cause of the injury, and the public entity must have had written notice of the dangerous condition. For example, an intersection may have had an obstructed line of sight due to overgrown foliage.
Pedestrian accidents are often highly preventable. They tend to be the results of vehicle traffic code violations. But it is not always drivers that are entirely to blame for these incidents. In many situations, pedestrian and bicycle accidents tend to be concentrated on a relatively small group of public streets and intersections. Part of the problem is that safety measures for pedestrians have not improved as NYC has continued to grow. The family of any person who died in a NYC car accident may be able to pursue some measure of accountability and transparency through a civil action.
Investigating New York City Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents
We at Richmond Vona extend our deepest condolences to the family of Xi Zheng. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the New York City police. This was a preventable tragedy that should not have taken place. It is our sincere hope that city officials will consider measures to help make Sanford Avenue and 160th Street safer.
Do you need more information about a Queens bicycle accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping victims and their family members get the information and resources that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into the unique circumstances of any accident, we are here to serve your needs. You’re always welcome to contact us anytime at 716-500-5678.
