US teen cyclist seriously injured in collision to be charged with riding through red light

A teenage cyclist hospitalised with serious injuries when she was hit by a car while riding through an intersection in a town in New York state on Monday evening will be charged with running a red light prior to the incident, police have confirmed.

Ashley L Vandervanter was hit by a vehicle driven by 63-year-old Chong Neiswonger shortly before 10.30pm on Monday at the intersection of Twin Cities Memorial Highway and Wheatfield Street in North Tonawanda, located around 15 kilometres from the Niagara Falls on the US-Canada border.

According to a report on Tonawanda News, the teenager was hit by the front of the car, was thrown onto the windscreen which shattered and then landed on the sidewalk, suffering injuries to her head, hip and left eye.

Police were informed by two witnesses that they believed the cyclist was at fault because the motorist had a green light.

Police Captain Roger Zgolak commented that the cyclist “is in serious but stable condition."

Police found headphones next to her, leading them to believe she may have been using them at the time, potentially contributing to her riding through the red light.

Tonawanda News added that no charges had been brought against the motorist involved in the incident.