Teen rider dies in Centre Street crash near City Hall
Gabriel Nacato, a 17-year-old Brooklyn student, died at the scene after a Wednesday morning crash with a 40-year-old woman driving a Chevrolet Tahoe near City Hall; his sister said he was headed to Chinatown for help with summer job applications.
Reported by press, not yet linked to NYC police crash records. This may change when new official records become available or when matching details are reviewed.
Location under review
What We Know
Gabriel Nacato, a 17-year-old from Brooklyn, died Wednesday morning near City Hall after a crash on Centre Street by Chambers Street. Police accounts reported by local news said Nacato and a 40-year-old woman driving a Chevrolet Tahoe were traveling north when the collision occurred. Reports differed on the exact sequence: some said Nacato merged into traffic after coming off the Brooklyn Bridge, while Streetsblog later reported that police were still investigating whether a driver hit him or whether the impact involved the back of a car. The driver remained at the scene, and police said the investigation was ongoing.
A morning crash just north of Chambers Street.
Police accounts reported by local news said Gabriel Nacato and a 40-year-old woman driving a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe were traveling north on Centre Street when they were involved in a collision near Chambers Street around 8:55 a.m. Nacato died at the scene. The driver remained there, and police said no immediate charges had been filed while the Collision Investigation Squad continued its work.
Reports did not settle the exact sequence.
Gothamist and ABC7 reported police accounts that placed Nacato coming off the Brooklyn Bridge and merging into traffic. News12 attributed to police a more specific account that placed the impact at the driver's-side door of the Tahoe after he left the bike lane. Streetsblog later reported that police were still investigating whether a driver hit Nacato or whether the impact involved the back of a car.
Gabriel Nacato was headed for help with summer job applications.
Nacato was a 17-year-old Brooklyn high school student from Bensonhurst. His sister, Fernanda Nacato, told the Daily News he was on his way to Chinatown to meet job counselors for help with summer applications, and said he was preparing for his senior year at Manhattan International School. "He was a beautiful boy. He was loved by everyone," she said. "We're broken."
The crash happened at a busy approach to civic Manhattan.
The crash occurred at Centre and Chambers streets, near City Hall, the Municipal Building, NYPD headquarters and the Brooklyn Bridge approach. Gothamist described the intersection as the first one cyclists and drivers reach coming off the Brooklyn Bridge, and Streetsblog reported that the segment north of Chambers is narrow and often further constrained by parked cars.
The two-wheeler became part of a wider debate over high-speed devices.
Reports identified Nacato's two-wheeler as a Deepower e-moto or electric bike, while police accounts identified the other vehicle as a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by a 40-year-old woman. Sources differed on the Deepower's motor rating: the Daily News reported that police said it had a 960-watt motor, while Streetsblog and a later Streetsblog report said officials and company materials described a 1,500-watt device advertised at 30 mph. Streetsblog reported that Deepower changed its website specifications after the fatal crash.
Officials and advocates called for action after the crash.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said New Yorkers should be safe regardless of how they travel and pointed to street infrastructure as a central safety issue. Transportation Alternatives and other advocates called for action against online sales of high-speed e-motos, and Streetsblog reported that Attorney General Letitia James would issue a consumer alert after Nacato's death.