A haunting photo of Daria Serkov on a Citi Bike posted to Instagram more than a year ago has resurfaced after the 15-year-old was killed riding one of the shared bicycles in Manhattan.
Serkov, a twin from New York City, died Friday night when an excavation truck struck her and a 13-year-old friend as they rode on 14th Street around 9 p.m., police said. The younger girl survived but was hospitalized with injuries. The truck driver, who has not been publicly identified, remained at the scene and was visibly devastated by what had happened.
“I saw the truck driver come out, and he was crying uncontrollably,” Bdin Puangsawaski, who owns Kati Thai restaurant nearby, told The Post on Friday night. Puangsawaski had been among the bystanders who rushed to help after the crash.
Emergency responders spent 10 minutes attempting to revive Serkov, but she could not be saved. Both she and the Citi Bike were pinned beneath the heavy construction vehicle, according to police accounts.
Serkov’s social media history revealed her longtime affinity for cycling. She had posted multiple photos showing herself on bicycles, including at least one image of her riding a Citi Bike that appeared on her Instagram account well before the fatal collision.
Family friend Chris Janssen launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Serkov’s relatives, including her surviving twin sister Greta. “We want to help support the family, including Daria’s twin sister Greta, in any way we can during this time,” Janssen wrote on the fundraising platform.
“The purpose of this fundraiser is to gather money for the funeral as well as any related expenses and support,” the post continued. “While no amount of money changes the outcome of this awful event, it takes a village of friends, family and neighbors to lift them up any way we can,” Janssen wrote, using a slightly different spelling in the original message.
The campaign had raised more than $62,500 by Sunday morning, reflecting an outpouring of community support for the grieving family. The funds are intended to cover funeral costs and other expenses arising from the sudden loss.
The collision occurred in the East Village area of Manhattan, where construction vehicles regularly share streets with cyclists and pedestrians. The circumstances leading to the truck striking the two teenagers remained under investigation.
Serkov’s death marked the second time in recent years that a young Citi Bike rider has been killed in New York City traffic, intensifying ongoing debates about street safety protections for cyclists in dense urban corridors. The shared bike program, launched in 2013, has expanded to thousands of vehicles across the five boroughs.
The 13-year-old companion’s condition was not immediately disclosed beyond her hospitalization. Police have not announced any charges against the truck driver.
Serkov’s family has not spoken publicly beyond the fundraising appeal organized by Janssen. The GoFundMe page remained active as donations continued to accumulate through the weekend.
The fatal crash occurred on a stretch of 14th Street that serves as a major crosstown route, frequently congested with mixed traffic including delivery vehicles, construction equipment, and cyclists. City transportation officials have faced sustained pressure to expand protected bike lane infrastructure on such corridors.
No further official statements regarding the investigation were released by Sunday.