We received reports this morning that a cyclist was fatally hit by a car in a hit and run around 4:30 a.m. near the Atlantic Avenue on-ramp to the BQE, and now WABC is reporting that the cyclist was actually riding ON the BQE. The NYPD could not confirm any details to us at this time, but WABC says the unidentified male victim was hit in the westbound lanes of the BQE by a vehicle that drove away. The cyclist was then hit by a second vehicle and pinned underneath until first responders could get him out. That second driver stayed at the scene, and EMTs rushed the victim to Long Island College Hospital.
Westbound lanes of the BQE were closed because of the accident, and the on-ramp from Atlantic Avenue was also shut down. We'll update when we have more information, but if it's true the cyclist was in fact biking on the BQE, we're not surprised the ride ended this way. [WABC report via Brooklyn Heights Blog]
