A local television journalist died over the weekend, police said, after she fell off a scooter that had been rented from Revel, a moped company whose Vespa-style vehicles have become a familiar sight on the streets. from Brooklyn and Queens.
The accident, which a company spokeswoman said was believed to be the first fatality from a Revel moped, occurred around 5:30 p.m. M. Saturday near the intersection of Franklin and India streets, police said, in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, a mostly residential area that is dotted with neighborhood bars and restaurants.
Nina Kapur, 26, a CBS2 reporter in New York, was a passenger on a scooter operated by a 26-year-old man, Detective Denise Moroney, a police spokeswoman, said Monday, adding that the moped was a Model ” 2020 Motorcycle-NIU (Revel) ”.
The moped was heading north on Franklin Street when “the operator strayed for an unknown reason” and the two “fell onto the road as a result,” Detective Moroney said, adding that authorities were still investigating the accident.
Ms. Kapur was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Detective Moroney said. The driver, whose name was not disclosed, suffered minor injuries. It was not immediately clear if they were wearing helmets.
A Revel spokeswoman said the company was assisting authorities with its investigation of the accident.
“At Revel, we are committed to working with local officials and communities to promote safe transportation practices throughout the city,” a spokeswoman said in a statement. “Of Revel’s three million trips to date, there have been no previous deaths.”
“Revel extends his deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Nina Kapur for her loss,” he said. “We are aware of reports that he passed away after an accident with a Revel moped. We are actively investigating this incident, and we are in contact with the New York Police to assist them in their investigations in any way we can. “
Revel started modestly with 68 electric vehicles in a small portion of Brooklyn, but quickly expanded through Brooklyn and Queens last year, when it had around 1,000 scooters, the company told The New York Times in August. In addition to New York, Revel operates in Washington; Miami; Austin, Texas; and Oakland, California, with plans to expand to San Francisco, according to the company’s website.
Revel’s signature blue scooters can travel up to 30 miles per hour, faster than the 25 mile per hour speed limit on most New York City streets. Passengers are charged $ 1 to unlock a scooter and 35 cents a minute while traveling. It costs $ 1 to add a passenger. The company requires passengers to have a valid driver’s license, and two helmets are included with each rental.
But as scooters have become increasingly visible, problems have arisen. In an email to his New York customers with the subject “Hey NY, we need to talk …” Revel said last week that he had suspended 1,000 users for “misbehavior” that violated their security rules, including not using helmets and driving on bike lanes and on sidewalks.
“It is not fun to be suspended, just ask one of the more than 1,000 brokers we have suspended in the past 30 days,” the company said. “This doesn’t have to be you, and it won’t be as long as you drive the right way.”
In a statement, the New York City Department of Transportation said Monday afternoon that it was not aware of any other deaths involving Revel mopeds.
“The city expresses its deepest condolences to Ms. Kapur’s loved ones and the CBS2 family at this tragic moment,” said a department spokesperson.
The accident that led to the death of Ms. Kapur occurred on the same day that a man suffered a head injury in an accident involving a Revel scooter in Queens. When the police arrived, they found the 38-year-old man who had been operating the scooter lying on the street.
It was unclear if the man had fallen off the scooter or if he was hit by another vehicle, police said. The man was taken to Elmhurst Hospital and was in critical condition, Detective Moroney said.
Ms. Kapur joined CBS2 in June 2019 from News 12 Connecticut, where she had worked for almost two years. In reporting on her death on Sunday, CBS2 said Ms. Kapur was “known for her infectious smile and her love of storytelling.”
“We are heartbroken here on CBS2 because a member of our news family passed away,” the station report said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to Nina’s family. We will miss her.
Like many other New York journalists, Ms. Kapur had been reporting stories related to the coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests in the city.
In her final Twitter post before her death, Ms. Kapur contacted Revel on July 14 to request customer support help.
“Hello, I have been trying to contact Revel support for an hour and a half,” he wrote, “Can someone help me?”
His colleagues and classmates from Syracuse University, where he graduated in 2016 with a degree in broadcast and digital journalism, according to his LinkedIn profile, posted tributes on Monday.
“We will miss his smile, his warmth, his presence,” wrote CBS2 host Chris Wragge on Twitter.
Syracuse classmate Jane Hong shared a video of Ms. Kapur on Twitter reporting a story about Connecticut politics for News 12 in 2018. In it, Ms. Kapur’s lips curved into a smile as she an older woman enters her live shot.
“This is the girl kapur I met in college: excellent at what she did while wearing a big smile on her face,” wrote Ms. Hong.
“I remember telling her that I couldn’t wait to see her on the national news one day,” he wrote. “She deserved more. praying for her family and loved ones. “
