The family of Daria Serkov, the 15-year-old killed while riding a Citi Bike on the Lower East Side last week, has issued a public statement asking reporters and well-wishers to give them space to grieve.
Serkov, who had a twin sister and was known for her love of cycling, was struck by an excavation truck around 9 p.m. Friday while riding on 14th Street with a 13-year-old friend. She was pinned beneath the truck and pronounced dead at the scene. Her friend was hospitalized but survived.
In a statement posted to a GoFundMe page set up on the family’s behalf, relatives described the toll the past week has taken.
“Our family is living through an unimaginable loss. We ask for privacy and space to grieve together, to honor Dasha’s life, and to begin processing a sorrow that words cannot express.”
The family said Serkov’s name became public “before our family was ready,” and that reporters have since called relatives “at all hours of the day and night,” prompting them to hire security to protect their privacy.
They also remembered her directly in the statement.
“Our beloved Daria, our Dasha, was full of love, joy, and energy. She cared deeply for others and brought warmth to the lives of those around her. Her generous spirit and loving heart made her deeply cherished. We will carry her light, her compassion, and the love she gave us in our hearts always.”
Witnesses at the scene described the driver of the truck, who stayed at the location, as visibly shaken. Bdin Puangsawaski, a neighborhood restaurant owner, told the New York Post he saw the driver “crying uncontrollably” after the crash.
A vigil was held for Serkov on Saturday night. The family thanked those who attended and those who have kept her in their thoughts since.
“We are sincerely grateful to everyone who has reached out with genuine care and compassion, to all who attended the vigil, and those who continue to keep Dasha in their hearts. Your kindness has brought comfort during the most painful time of our lives.”
As of Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe campaign supporting the family had raised more than $111,000.
