Killed Cyclist Mathieu Lefevre's Family Demands Answers At NYPD HQ

The family of Mathieu Lefevre, the 30-year-old artist who was run over by a truck in East Williamsburg earlier this month joined Transportation Alternatives at a press conference today at 1 Police Plaza, calling on NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly to reinvestigate the case of Leferve, as well as other cyclist fatalities. On Monday we learned that no charges would be pressed against the flatbed truck driver who left the scene after killing Lefevre. He parked his truck just two blocks away and, according to the NYPD, "had no idea" that he'd hit someone. Lefevre's mother Erika says there were markings on the truck from the accident, which is why investigators decided to track down the driver.

Lefevre's family has been in New York since Thursday and has received little word from the NYPD. Earlier today Erika Lefevre told us that the detective she's been told to contact has not yet bothered to return her calls. Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives, opened the press conference by listing many cases where drivers have clearly broken the law, killing pedestrians and cyclists who were obeying the law, and yet charges were not filed. He went on to explain how, in his opinion, this has become an epidemic:

The NYPD has consistently failed to file charges against drivers for their lethal behavior. Even in cases where there is clear wrongdoing no charges are filed... not even a mere citation for running people down like dogs in the street. We are here today to say that this must change. Ray Kelly, Mayor Bloomberg, you are failing to enforce basic traffic law. Ray Kelly, Mayor Bloomberg, you are failing to enforce a basic standard of due care. And Ray Kelly, Mayor Bloomberg, you are failing to hold accountable drivers who are killing New Yorkers with impunity on a daily basis.
There is no other way to kill person in New York City where to say 'I didn't see him' is allowed as an excuse. 270 New Yorkers died last year in collisions. 77,253 were injured. Many people, including some police officers, will blame the victims and say it's their fault. But, in seventy percent of these tragedies—look it up New York DMV—the driver responsible was breaking a traffic law at the time of the collision.

Since 2001 3,120 New Yorkers have been killed in crashes and over 800,000 have been injured. This is an epidemic on our streets and Ray Kelly and Mayor Bloomberg are ignoring it. At the very least commissioner Kelly, come grieve with us, at least go to the scene, at least go to the scene, at least meet with the family, at least meet with Mayor Bloomberg.

Transportation Alternatives stressed that they aren't asking the NYPD or New York State to create new laws, but simply enforce those that are already on the books. During the conference Erika Lefevre demanded that the NYPD share more information about the case, saying, "It's important that we know what happened to our son." She did reveal that Mathieu was a skilled and experienced rider, he was wearing a helmet and that she was told that they were "unable to retrieve it." It's still unclear if his bike had lights on it; his friends said he usually used lights, but it's not confirmed that he used them the night of his death.

A service was held yesterday for Mathieu in Greenwood cemetery, with about 80 people in attendance and a little more than half of those from Montreal. He was one of four children, the only one residing in New York. He had talked to his mother most recently on her birthday October 10th, eight days before his death. The Lefevre family would like to stay in New York until they get more answers about the truck driver who killed their son, but they say it's unlikely they can afford to stay here and wait for the NYPD divulge more.

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

By Kristina Monllos in News on October 26, 2011 5:03 PM

Comments [rss]

slickrick77

The truck that was being driven by driver Degianni is a crane truck probably worth a good amount of money. So why would he leave it out in the street at that time of the night when the company has a yard where it is usually parked!

tomhoser

It is indeed a tragic event. Having driven trucks, cars, motorcycles, and bicycles in this city, the little bit of factual information provided in the article is entirely consistent with the driver's story. It could also be consistent with many other ways of ordering the same facts, there just isn't enough information to outright condemn the driver, doing so is just ignorant.

Mellow Yellow

http://www.allourideas.org/bik... WE CAN FIX THIS TOGETHER. RIP Matieu and all victims of traffic. We will not forgive or forget.

rnrnys

Don't these people know there's a riot going on in Zuccotti Park?

"Transportation Alternatives stressed that they aren't asking the NYPD or New York State to create new laws, but simply enforce those that are already on the books."

Fair enough. Does that include enforcing the laws with respect to those operating bikes as well? I don't think that's where they are going with this.

Anyway, this artists work will now become more valuable.

swampyankeesmom

they do enforce cycling laws, and after a cyclist is killed they proceed to crackdown on cyclists even harder.

rnrnys

As they should.

swampyankeesmom

but not the drivers? yeah, enforce the ones being killed not the ones doing the killing. makes total sense.

Investigate-NWO-globalists

I often used to drive around that area, Grand St. & Metropolitan Ave, 15-20 years ago. I'm not sure how it is now, but back then I remember lots of speeding tractor trailers & private garbage trucks going 50+ mph; dirty, grimy streets with no lane markings, etc.! Struck me as a dangerous place to pass through.

Rayski_LaRue

Someone help me here. Why would the cops be protecting this guy? Is it because the victim was on a bike, and therefore "not as important" if it was a hit and run on a car or pedestrian? Or does the driver have cop friends or something? Man, NYC is going to hell and fast.

Just keep repeating to yourself "It's the few bad cops who are ruining it for all of the good cops"

bggb

There is simply no way a truck driver could drive over a human body and not notice it.

It completely defies all logic.

station44025

Why are you allowed to murder people with cars and trucks but not guns, knives, collapsing cranes, medical mistakes, defective products, bludgeons, your bare hands, poison, etc? The logic is so fucked up there aren't even words. Drivers license=license to kill?

dummiesonbikes

This is what you get when you elect an eliteist dick as mayor....

CurmudgeonNYC

You are a pathetic trolling moron. Isnt it time for your afternoon nap?

Marc Hug

hear, hear!

dummiesonbikes

When you ride late at night with no lights it us called WILLFUL SUICIDE. If you are to stupid to ride with your hands on the breaks, you will slide under whatever cuts you off. When you are pencil thin and it is a truck, your lump in the road feels the same at a pot hole. If you are too stupid to buy a cheap light and die, you gambled with your life and lost. Now your relatives are forced with the stupidity of your decision.

bggb

Actually operators of vehicles bear ironclad responsibility (in theory of course, not according to the NYPD) to operate their vehicles in a safe manner, LOOK BEFORE TURNING in every circumstance, be aware of their surroundings, and oh, not leave the scene of an accident.

Lights are completely irrelevant to a DRIVER'S responsibility.

dummiesonbikes

Really... After midnight and no lights on and somebody is supposed to see you? You are somebody who can not deal with the facts the cyclist was violating the law at the time of his demise...

bggb

1. It's completely unknown if he had lights on or not. It's known that he usually used lights.

2. It's completely unknown whether the truck overtook the biker and hit him, in which case the truck is 100% in the wrong.

3. Yes, I know this is hard for people to grasp, but drivers bear a lot of the responsibility for seeing everything around their car. It is part of the responsibility of operating a vehicle which kills 200+ NYC'ers per year. If you can't handle the responsibility of driving at night, the answer is for you to NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT.

The answer is to NOT hit some bicyclists while the NYPD shrugs its shoulders.