A young Citi Bike rider was killed Friday after a Manhattan collision with an Amazon truck — and afterward, a witness said, someone stole the bicycle.
The gruesome incident happened shortly after 1 p.m. along First Ave. near E. 17th St., on the East Side along the border of Stuyvesant Town.
The bike and the electric Amazon truck, both traveling north, crossed paths, officials said.
Dead at the scene was an 18-year-old bike rider and Stuyvesant Town resident. His name was withheld Friday pending family notification.
Witnesses told cops the rider was pedaling on the east side of the avenue, near the bus lane, and not on the west side of the street in the bike lane.
He was not wearing a helmet.
“He was bleeding from his head,” said Ash Alavi, a local resident who witnessed the aftermath. ”Medics came over and tried to resuscitate him. They were pressing on his chest but nothing happened. I was just hoping he would survive. It was devastating. “
A large pool of blood still filled the street, hours after the accident.
The driver stayed at the scene, and was not facing criminal charges, officials said.
“The driver of the truck was having a panic attack, screaming,” Alavi said.
During the confusion, Alavi said he noticed that the bike disappeared.
“The medics put it on the side of the road,” he said. “After a couple of minutes I noticed it wasn’t there. It’s shocking.”
Brian Ferrari, a friend of the victim, said his buddy was active in local sports.
“He played basketball, soccer and baseball,” Ferrari said. “I’m devastated. It’s terrible. He was the same age as my little brother. My little brother loved him. He always said he was one of the smartest kids around.”