According to police, the incident occurred just before 6 a.m. at a garage on West 43rd Street near the West Side Highway. Four men entered the garage around 5:45 a.m. and attempted to steal several luxury cars, including a blue McLaren sports car and a black Mercedes‑Benz G‑Wagon.
In 2023, a report from the Police Executive Research Forum called for police to put the brakes on car chases unless a violent crime has been committed and the suspect poses an imminent threat. The report noted a spike in fatalities and an increase in pursuits by some departments, including in Houston and New York City.
The first three months of 2026 were among the three safest first-three-month periods since records started being kept at the dawn of the Automobile Age, with only 42 fatalities from car crashes in New York City.
The man was riding a stand-up motorized scooter when he struck a pothole and was thrown to the ground, striking his head on impact. The 46-year-old man was taken to Jamaica Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.
We are deeply saddened by this tragic crash, and our hearts are with the victim's loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. The circumstances of the collision are under investigation, and we are committed to fully understanding what happened and if additional steps can be taken to prevent future crashes.