Cyclist Killed In East Williamsburg Was Artist Mathieu Lefevre, Member Of 3rd Ward

(Courtesy Lee Brunet)

The cyclist killed in Williamsburg just after midnight Wednesday has been identified by the NYPD as Mathieu Lefevre. The 30-year-old artist, who was originally from Alberta, Canada but had been residing in NYC, was killed by a flatbed truck while riding his bike on Morgan Avenue, at the intersection of Meserole Street. Nicolas Mavrikakis, a Canadian art critic, writes, "I am without words. The news of the death of Mathieu Lefevre, 30, a young artist who promised so much, but who was already a great artist, leaves me totally dazed. A work that was already excited and growing has been suddenly amputated. A truck broke it all in one evening."

The truck was found legally parked but unattended a block from the scene, and the NYPD tells us they're still searching for the driver. Lefevre was pronounced dead at the scene, and the circumstances behind the accident remain unclear. We're told investigators have not yet established whether the driver was aware he or she ran over Lefevre, but they believe Lefevre was biking next to the truck when it made a right turn onto Meserole Street. (In cyclist parlance, this is known as a "right hook.") One local resident who says she was at the scene sent us this comment:

I live a few blocks away and happened to come upon the scene minutes after police arrived. There was the crumpled body of the victim on the south side of Meserole, perhaps five yards west of Morgan and the mangled bicycle also on the south side of Meserole roughly 50-60 yards west of Morgan.
These details, along with the fact that the car turned right into the cyclist, make the notion that the driver was potentially unaware of the contact a little difficult to accept. The scene would suggest that the body passed fully underneath the vehicle (from the north corner to the south, while being rolled up the street west) while the bicycle was dragged a good distance up the street by the truck. Furthermore, the phenomenon of the “right hook” you mentioned also indicates that the truck was in the process of overtaking the rider in the turn.

The accident happened two blocks from the art center 3rd Ward. Jessica Tom, the marketing director there, tells us, "He was a member of 3rd Ward, but to our knowledge he was not here the night of the accident." Lefevre's website features an article by critic Fabien Loszach, who writes that "Lefevre’s work plays liberally on language, particularly the language of art, to create its amusing effects. 'I like humour that arises from taking things literally,' says the artist."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in Arts & Entertainment on October 21, 2011 10:33 AM

Comments [rss]

Caroline Woolard

Dear friends of Mathieu,

This coming Tuesday (the night before the rally), please join us for a quiet ceremony for Mathieu.
Meet at the corner of Grand St. and Morgan Ave. to carry Mat's ghost bike to Morgan Ave. and Meserole St.

Bring candles, if you can.

Best wishes,
Caroline, Colin, and everyone at Mat's studio

PS: The rally is the next day, Wednesday morning... please spread the word!

Attend the Rally

Transportation
Alternatives, along with Mathieu's friends, family and supporters, are
organizing a press conference and rally Nov. 30 at 1 Police Plaza.
Attend the rally and let commissioner Kelly and mayor Bloomberg know
that you support a zero-tolerance policy on dangerous and lethal
driving. Let commissioner Kelly and mayor Bloomberg know that lawless
driving is absolutely unacceptable. Let commissioner Kelly and Mayor
Bloomberg know that police should do more than shrug when a careless,
distracted or speeding driver takes a human life. Mathieu's friends,
family and supporters need as many people as possible to attend the
rally and lend their voice to their call for justice.

Time and Date: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 8:30am

Location: 1 Police Plaza, Manhattan, NY 10007

RSVP with Transport Alternatives
RSVP on Facebook

Jason

One less Hipster. Hooray!

Evan Ryer

Rode past the site tonight on my way home and sure enough NYPD were hanging around writing out tickets to cyclists for minor infractions like making a right hand turn on red yet totally oblivious to the more deadly traffic all around. Why do they continue to ignore the problem?

StarryGordon

The truck was not speeding; it was turning. When I'm using a bicycle, people do 'right hooks' in front of me all the time. Apparently the drivers misjudge the speed of the bicycle, or they just don't care. Usually I can stop fast enough so that they miss me, but a couple of years ago a car knocked me down that way. The driver and her companion got out, looked me over as I lay on the pavement, decided I was going to live, and drove off.

Investigate-NWO-globalists

R.I.P.

There is also a huge problem posed by speeding trucks & especially by those giant private sanitation trucks that like to go 50 mph or more in that area, usually at night!!!

dummiesonbikes

So, if this is already known, why would you take that street?

WesternQueensLand

Heartbreaking car-crash/
Another young life snuffed out/
By a vehicle/
#haiku

nvk

How many more have to die before they extend curbsides out and do things Montreal/Asia style where pedestrians and bicyclists, and motor vehicles are separated?

I am a car drive, a pedestrian, and a bicyclist when in Asia -- only because I know there is an actual physical separation between me and traffic. Driving down McGuinness Boulevard is made worse when I see a cyclist--get rid of the parking lane on one side, build some municipal, rent-able garages and give that space to the cyclists.

luke_1

Montreal/Asia, all over Europe, yadda yadda. People here just don't care. As a cyclist I've gotten over that. People don't care and they are horrible drivers (ps I drive too). And it was definitely the truck driver's fault. Or did he just happen to stop a block away and not return to his vehicle? Right!

PS this is why motor vehicles are registered (and why registration for bicycles makes no sense). It isn't rocket science to run the tags. But this is low priority as far as the NYPD goes.

M

What a terrible way to be introduced to some great work. For what it's worth his work gave me a laugh. It looks interesting, aware of art history, well executed, and damn funny. Some gallery needs to give this man a tribute show. RIP

SwampYankee

Look, I am trying not to post on killed cyclist threads and it is a
tragedy this guy is dead. However, if you think this "art" is anything
but pure crap you need to get your eyes checked and visit a real
museum. I mean he has one piece here that is a hunk of dried paint
rolled in kitty litter. If my daughter did this I would be up at school
asking them to fire the art teacher. I did not see a single piece here
that I could not reproduce in 60 minutes and that includes going to the
store to buy the supplies. He may have fancied himself an artist, but
this is is crap, pure and simple. You can't even argue for different
taste. He was not an artist. I'm not kidding you when I tell you I
have seen severely handicapped children produce better stuff. I am sorry, but to call him an artist and his "work" art is delusional.

Eliz

appropriate argument. really. stay classy!

karess76

would you say the same about picasso???? just cuz you dont understand or care to understand mathieu's art does not make us delusional. I grew up with Mathieu as he is my cousin... The family is devestated at his passing.... As to your previos reponse.... that art peice was produced in 2008....did you notice that.... he was in montreal not new york..... so how does this prove that his bike did not have lights?????

SwampYankee

No, I wouldn't say the same about Picasso. You know why? Because Picasso was an ARTIST!. I understand this stuff all too well. It only takes a nanosecond to figure out it is not art. Let's pick a piece out, shall we? How about the piece called "One Liner" . It is a floor with a single bead of black paint on it. What, pray tell, am I not understanding? What is the deep, hidden mystical message behind a single bead of black paint on a floor that makes it art? Please explain? Use small words so I understand. This isn't even the emperors new cloths. It is self delusion. You would be embarrassed to hang something like this on your refrigerator less someone think your child is "slow". And how about the piece that is just 2 bent screws in the wall? Really? Art? Look, I'm sure he was a nice guy and I am sorry for your loss but just because he called himself an artist doesn't mean he was one. His work, sadly, speaks for itself.

karess76

no i would place that painting in my hang that painting or put any of his art in my house..... he must of had something because he was making it as an"ARTIST"in new york..... he had shows and he is greatly missed by myself, the rest of his family and many friends......
If you can not see the beauty in all art how does that make you such a critic? This accident wasnt because of his art.... it was because he probably headed home. If you actually met him you would understand his artwork more.. i feel for you i really do.... because you never knew my cousin and how loving,generous, creative and funny he was.... RIP Mathieu......

Gregory Chalance Ryan

This is a horrible loss. Please, have a little respect here. I know it's the internet and all, but this was a human being, an amazing person, a friend of mine and many others. Regardless of the details of the situation, have a little bit of respect. A man is dead. He will be greatly missed.

eatmyassout

might also need bikers to use proper lighting when riding late at night. What could possibly happen when you ride in the dark with no lights on your bike? I live in Williamsburg and have seen this guy out before, LATE AT NIGHT, and NO LIGHTS ON HIS BIKE. A truck can not avoid you, IF IT CAN NOT SEE YOU....

swampyankeesmom

i didn't see where the article said he wasn't using lights
and to the best of my knowledge all motor vehicles come equipped with headlights [hi-beams too]. a light-less cyclist is visible at night to a sober driver using headlights properly.

Daniel

This is a really sad tragedy but it was also stated that he was riding along the right side of the truck, the blind side... The driver really might not have picked up on the bike riding along his blind side, especially at night. I really hope the driver wasn't callous enough to know what he did and leave the scene.

dummiesonbikes

Actually somebody who lives in the neighborhood and saw the crash verified this. Do you even know what you are talking about? How does a truck who is making a right turn look in his rear view mirror or to the right of his truck and see a bike with no lights when it is late at night?. Oh, but don't let LOGIC change your argument. That street is legendary for how dark it is.