53-year-old cyclist struck in Elmont in critical condition

A driver struck and critically injured a bicyclist Thursday evening in Elmont, according to the Nassau County Police Department.

The crash happened at about 9:55 p.m. as the bicyclist, a 53-year-old man, was struck by the driver, a 30-year-old man, the department wrote in a news release issued early Friday. Neither man’s name was disclosed.

The cyclist had been traveling near the intersection of Elmont Road and Plainfield Avenue when the driver, in a 2006 Honda Civic, struck him while headed south on the avenue, according to the release.

The cyclist was brought to a hospital and was listed in critical condition, the release said.

The driver stayed at the crash scene, according to the release, which did not provide other information about the crash, such as how fast the driver was traveling, the crash cause, who had the right of way, and whether anyone was ticketed or otherwise charged. The investigation is unfinished.

Newsday has reported that Long Island roads are among New York State’s deadliest to bike and walk on, but drivers involved in crashes rarely face charges.

Statewide, 7,382 bicyclists were injured, 762 seriously and 48 killed, in crashes with drivers in 2024, the last year for which complete statistics are available from the University at Albany-based Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research.

Of those, 853 (486 in Nassau; 367 in Suffolk) were on Long Island: 6 (2 in Nassau, 4 in Suffolk) were killed and 89 (44 in Nassau and 45 in Suffolk) were seriously injured.

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.