By Ben Fractenberg and Julie Shapiro
DNAinfo Staff
MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS — A bicyclist was struck near Columbia University Friday morning, fire officials said.
The bicyclist, a middle-aged man, was riding the wrong way along West 114th Street about 11:15 a.m. when he was hit by a brown minivan as he crossed Broadway, the FDNY and one witness said. His condition was not immediately clear.
The minivan was traveling north on Broadway and had a green light when it hit the cyclist, who was heading east, said Marguerite Lannen, 64, who was selling books on the corner and saw the crash.
"I heard brakes," Lannen said. "I saw the cyclist go through the red light. The [driver] put on the brakes and tried to stop."
But the minivan could not stop in time and hit the cyclist head-on, knocking him from his bike to the pavement, where he lay without moving until the ambulance arrived, Lannen said.
Another witness saw emergency responders trying to help the cyclist stand, but he couldn't get up, the witness said.
The cyclist was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in unknown condition, the FDNY said. He was not wearing a helmet, witnesses said.
The driver of the minivan stayed at the scene and appeared shaken up, Lannen said.
The NYPD did not immediately have information about the incident.
