15-YEAR-OLD TWIN DARIA SERKOV KILLED IN NYC BIKE CRASH REMEMBERED THROUGH HEARTBREAKING PHOTOS

A New York City community is mourning 15-year-old Daria Serkov, a beloved twin who was killed after a commercial truck struck the bicycle she was riding with another teenager in Manhattan. Friends and family are now remembering her through photographs, a candlelight vigil and heartfelt tributes.

Daria Serkov was only 15 years old when her life was suddenly cut short in a devastating bicycle crash in New York City’s East Village.

On the night of September 18, 2026, Daria was riding on a bicycle with another teenage girl along East 14th Street.

At around 9 p.m., the two teenagers were traveling toward First Avenue at the same time a large commercial truck was making a right turn onto the avenue.

The truck, operated by Badger Infrastructure Solutions, collided with the teenagers.

Daria suffered severe injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The 16-year-old girl who had been riding the bicycle was also injured and was hospitalized in stable condition with a leg injury.

A TRAGEDY THAT LEFT A FAMILY SHATTERED

Daria was a resident of the nearby Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village community.

She is survived by her parents, Irina and Alex Serkov, and her twin sister, Greta.

For her family, the loss has been especially devastating because Daria and Greta had grown up together as twins.

A GoFundMe campaign established to support the family said the money would help cover funeral expenses and other costs following the tragedy.

The fundraiser also included photographs showing Daria enjoying life with friends, including pictures of her playing sports and spending time with people close to her.

The images offer a glimpse into the teenager’s life away from the heartbreaking circumstances of her death.

‘FULL OF LOVE, JOY, AND ENERGY’

Daria’s parents shared a statement with WABC as they struggled to come to terms with the loss of their daughter.

“Our beloved Daria, our Dasha, was full of love, joy, and energy,” they said.

They added that they would carry her “light, her compassion, and the love she gave us” in their hearts always.

Friends and neighbors have also spoken about the impact Daria had on those around her.

She was remembered as an energetic teenager who enjoyed sports, including soccer and tennis.

Her friends and members of the local community gathered together after the crash, refusing to let the family face the tragedy alone.

HUNDREDS GATHER FOR A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

A candlelight vigil was held near the location where Daria was killed.

Hundreds of people gathered at the scene, bringing flowers and candles and standing together in memory of the teenager.

Photographs from the vigil show mourners gathering around a growing memorial at the intersection.

Some people struggled to speak about what had happened.

Christine Janssen, who helped organize the vigil, told CBS New York that the community was still trying to process the sudden loss.

“She was just 15,” Janssen said, emphasizing how difficult the tragedy was for the teenagers and families who knew Daria.

Another report described Daria as a “spicy go-getter” and a beautiful young girl who had made an impression on those around her.

The gathering became more than a memorial.

For Daria’s friends, it was also a way to support one another as they tried to understand how someone their age could be gone so suddenly.

THE CRASH HAPPENED DURING A RIGHT TURN

According to police, the truck was traveling westbound on East 14th Street before making a right turn onto First Avenue.

The teenagers were also attempting to make the same turn.

NY1 reported that the girls were traveling on a section of East 14th Street without a bike lane and entered the path of the turning truck. The truck’s turn signal was reportedly on, and the cyclists were in the vehicle’s blind spot.

The driver, identified by police as a man in his late 50s, remained at the scene following the collision.

The NYPD Collision Investigation Squad is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

As of the latest reports, no charges had been filed.

The investigation remains ongoing.

THE COMPANY SAYS IT IS COOPERATING WITH INVESTIGATORS

Badger Infrastructure Solutions, the company that owned the truck, released a statement following the crash.

The company said it was devastated by the loss of the teenager and expressed condolences to Daria’s family and friends.

It also said it was fully cooperating with the NYPD and other authorities investigating the collision.

Lyft, which owns and operates Citi Bike, also expressed condolences and said it was prepared to assist law enforcement with the investigation.

A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER FOR DARIA’S FAMILY

In the days following the crash, friends, neighbors and strangers began contributing to a fundraising campaign created to help Daria’s family.

The fundraiser said its purpose was to help with funeral and related expenses while providing support to her parents and twin sister.

The campaign’s message acknowledged that money could never change what had happened.

Instead, organizers said they hoped the community could help carry the family through an unimaginable period of grief.

Local residents have responded by donating, sharing memories and attending the vigil.

CBS New York reported that organizers had raised $20,000 following the vigil, while later local reporting said the online campaign had surpassed $30,000.

REMEMBERING DARIA BEYOND THE CRASH

Among the most touching elements of the tributes are the photographs shared by her loved ones.

Rather than showing Daria only as the teenager whose life ended in a traffic collision, the pictures show her as a daughter, a twin, a friend and an active young person.

She is seen spending time with friends and participating in activities she loved.

For those who knew her, those memories are now an important part of how they want Daria to be remembered.

Her family has chosen to focus on the qualities that defined her life: her energy, compassion, love and joy.

And for Greta, losing a twin means losing someone who had been beside her throughout nearly every stage of childhood.

A LIFE THAT ENDED TOO SOON

Daria’s death has left friends, family and neighbors asking difficult questions about safety on New York City’s streets.

But while investigators work to determine exactly what happened, those closest to Daria are focused on remembering the teenager behind the headlines.

She was 15 years old.

She was a twin.

She played sports, spent time with friends and was deeply loved by her family.

Now, candles and flowers mark the place where her life was suddenly cut short.

Her parents say they will carry her light with them.

And the photographs being shared by her friends and loved ones ensure that Daria’s story will not be remembered only as a tragic crash, but also as the story of a young girl whose life brought love, energy and happiness to the people around her.

The NYPD investigation into the collision remains ongoing.