Cyclist killed in hit-run; woman & baby flee scene

A cyclist was killed in the Bronx Sunday in a hit-and-run crash by a female driver who hopped into a getaway car — with a baby in tow, police said.

The biker was near E. 172nd St. and Metcalf Ave. in Soundview when he was struck by a white Jeep just before 3 p.m., cops said.

The woman behind the wheel of the Jeep then unstrapped a baby in the back seat and jumped into another white SUV, police said.

A neighbor watched as the woman was picked up by the second driver.

“She didn’t even check on him,” said the neighbor, who believes the victim was a delivery person. “She was flying.”

The neighbor estimated the woman was traveling well over the speed limit — perhaps as fast as 80 mph.

The bicyclist — who police were working to identify — was rushed to Jacobi Medical Center, but he could not be saved.

“I can’t believe this guy is dead,” the neighbor said. “They couldn’t even give him CPR.”

Police continued to search for the hit-and-run driver Sunday evening.

As of Thursday, traffic crashes had killed 20 people using bicycles, scooters and mopeds so far this year, according to street safety advocate group Transportation Alternatives.

There have been 112 traffic deaths citywide so far in 2022, a 29% uptick from the corresponding period in 2018 — which was the safest year for Mayor Bill de Blasio’s lackluster Vision Zero program, the group reported.

The city saw at least 266 deaths among pedestrians, cyclists and motorists last year. The troubling figure was the highest of any year since 2013, when 299 people died.

This year has been the deadliest year in the Bronx for crashes since the launch of Vision Zero, Transportation Alternatives reported.

“Vision Zero cannot just be a slogan,” the advocate group said in a statement. “Lives are at stake, and we need those in power to take every possible step now to prevent further acts of carnage on our streets.”

A biking enthusiast visited the scene Sunday evening to pay his respects by leaving a votive candle.

“Many cyclists have been killed in the Bronx this year alone,” said Michael Beltzer.

“I feel we can keep up with traffic or control it.”

Beltzer called upon Mayor Adams to implement safer streets for cyclists, including protected bike lanes.

“Mayor Adams needs to protect or control intersections,” Beltzer said.

“If this intersection was protected I doubt someone would’ve died.”