A father of two who was critically injured when he was struck by a Central Park cyclist last week has died — leaving his family trying to raise money to get by without him.
Richard O’Brien, 41, was walking to work around 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 23 when he was knocked to the ground by a 32-year-old man heading north on a pedal bike, according to the NYPD and the family’s GoFundMe page. Officials said it happened on East Drive, near 84th Street.
The crash left O’Brien with “a severe and devastating brain injury,” according to the GoFundMe, which added that he died “
peacefully in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 27” with his wife by his side.
“Although our hearts are broken by this unimaginable loss, Richie’s legacy will live on. He was able to give the gift of life to others through organ donation, helping those in need even in his final moments,” the post continued.
By Tuesday, the NYPD Highway District’s Collision Investigation Squad was still looking into the mechanics of the crash to determine how exactly the cyclist hit O’Brien. Police officials said it was still unclear whether O’Brien saw the bike coming, and said they did not yet have conclusive information about whether the cyclist would be charged. According to the NYPD, the cyclist stayed at the scene of the crash, and was treated for minor injuries from getting thrown onto the pavement.
O’Brien was a “proud Local 638 Steamfitter” who “went to work every day to provide for his family,” according to the online fundraiser. He leaves behind a wife and two daughters who are 8 and 12 years old, the page continued, adding that the money would go to help the family pay their mortgage. By Tuesday morning, it had almost reached its goal of $150,000.
“No family should have to worry about finances while facing something this heartbreaking,” the organizer wrote.
O’Brien and his family live in Port Jefferson Station, according to police.
This is a developing story and may be updated.