Police ID Bicyclist Struck, Killed By Boat On Staten Island
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police have released the identity of a bicyclist who lost her life in a freak accident on Staten Island.
Alexa Cioffi, 21, and her 22-year-old friend were riding their bikes when they were struck by an 18-foot boat on a trailer after it detached from the pickup truck that was hauling it, police said.
"This is the single most horrific, tragic event a family can ever experience," Dawn Bartkowski told CBS2's Scott Rapoport.
Bartkowski, a close friend, spoke for the family on Tuesday.
"Alexa was one of the sweetest people you could ever meet in your life," Bartkowski said.
The young woman from Eltingville, was the second of three sisters. She loved video games and horseback riding, and had dreams of going to law school.
Cioffi's family asked for privacy, but her grief stricken mother said that she feels devastated and broken.
Cioffi's boyfriend Michael Aspromonte, who she had been seeing for more than a year, wrote on his Facebook page, "Rest easy Alexa, I will always love you, together forever."
The accident happened on Hylan Boulevard and Redgrave Avenue in Bay Terrace just before 5:30 p.m. Monday.
Police ID Bicyclist Struck, Killed By Boat On Staten Island
One bike lay crumpled in the grass near a telephone pole, a pair of shoes from one of the victims was lying near the boat, CBS2 reported.
Both women were found unconscious and unresponsive. First responders rushed the victims to Staten Island University Hospital, where Cioffi later died. The other woman was listed in critical condition, police said.
Police ID Bicyclist Struck, Killed By Boat On Staten Island
Witnesses were stunned.
"The randomness of the whole thing is just freaky," Andrew, who lives across the street, told WCBS 880's Sean Adams.
Another witness, named Mike, said the driver was shaken.
"He didn't do anything wrong, it was just one of those freak things. He was freaked out, obviously it wasn't intentional. He was grief-stricken," Mike told 1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck. "It's a shame that his life's gotta be ruined and the families of two of those innocent girls."
The driver of the pickup truck spent several hours at the scene with investigators before leaving without comment, CBS2 reported.
Police were looking closely at the trailer hitch to determine if it had been modified somehow, and if so, whether that contributed to the accident, CBS2 reported.
Boaters at nearby Nichols Marina said they've seen this happen before.
"If the trailer hitch is in, but not all the way, and the lever is not closed, there's nothing to stop the ball from coming out if you hit a bump," Pete Castellaneta said.
It was not clear if the driver will face charges.
