A 22-year-old cyclist was pronounced dead after being involved in a crash in Astoria on Monday evening.
At 11:06 on July 23, officers from the 114th Precinct responded to a call about a crash at the intersection of 35th Street and 23rd Avenue.
Upon arrival, law enforcement observed Xellea Samonte lying on the roadway with head and leg trauma. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to the scene and transported Samonte to Elmhurst General Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased on July 24.
The NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad conducted further investigations on the case and reported that Samonte was riding eastbound on 35th Street in Astoria and was reportedly riding in the marked Department of Transportation bike lane when the crash occurred.
However, law enforcement sources said that the Astoria resident proceeded through a steady red light signal at the intersection when she struck the front passenger side of a 2008 Ford Econoline van. The vehicle was being operated by a 28-year-old male, who was traveling southbound on 23rd Avenue with the green light signal.
Police said that the driver remained at the scene and was not injured. At this time, police said that no charges have been filed and the investigation is ongoing.
Updated on July 24 at 9:50 p.m. A previous version of this story reported that the victim was a 27-year-old man, but a source who knows the cyclist confirmed the victim is a 22-year-old woman.
