Appeals Court Clears NYC Suit Over Cyclist Olga Cook's Death

Ruling allows family to argue city's traffic signal timing contributed to fatal crash

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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A state appeals court has opened the door to a wrongful-death trial against the City of New York over the 2016 death of cyclist Olga Cook on the Hudson River Greenway. The ruling allows her family to argue in court that the city's traffic-signal timing created a dangerous conflict that helped cause her death.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about cyclist safety and the responsibility of cities to design and manage intersections to protect vulnerable road users. The outcome could set a precedent for similar lawsuits and spur changes to signal timing and intersection design along the West Side Greenway.

The details

On June 11, 2016, driver Samuel Silva turned from southbound West Street onto Chambers Street and hit Cook as she traveled north on the greenway. The lawsuit claims a single-phasing signal pattern gave cyclists and turning drivers green lights at the same time, setting up the deadly conflict. After the crash, the city installed a dedicated turn signal, bollards and pavement markings, but advocates say many locations remain risky.

  • On June 11, 2016, driver Samuel Silva struck and killed cyclist Olga Cook at the West Street and Chambers Street intersection.
  • In 2010-2014, there were 56 crashes at the intersection that injured 16 cyclists, according to data cited in the lawsuit.

The players

Olga Cook

A cyclist who was fatally struck at the West Street and Chambers Street intersection in 2016.

Samuel Silva

The driver who struck and killed Olga Cook, later pleading guilty to criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene.

City of New York

The defendant in the lawsuit, accused of failing to properly time traffic signals at the dangerous intersection.

Daniel Flanzig

The attorney representing Olga Cook's family in the lawsuit against the City of New York.

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What they’re saying

“Data showed 56 crashes at the intersection between 2010 and 2014 that injured 16 cyclists, and that the city failed to time the signals to 'eliminate conflicts and meet national standards.'”

— Daniel Flanzig, Attorney for Olga Cook's family (amNewYork)

What’s next

With the appeals ruling in place, the lawsuit will head into state-court scheduling and discovery, where the Cook family will be able to seek evidence on signal timing, control and design. The case could reach trial in New York Supreme Court within a year.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges cities face in designing and managing intersections to protect vulnerable road users like cyclists. The outcome could set an important precedent and spur broader changes to improve safety along the West Side Greenway and similar high-risk locations.