A dedicated dad of two was knocked to the ground and killed when a bicyclist rammed into him during his morning walk to work in Central Park last week, according to police and his family.
Richie O’Brien, 41, was walking through the iconic greenspace on the way to his steamfitter job around 6:35 a.m. September 23 when the cyclist, heading north on the park’s West Drive near West 84th Street, hit him — throwing him off his feet, according to the NYPD and a fundraiser launched by his loved ones.
He suffered severe head trauma and was rushed to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, his family said.
“Although our hearts are broken by this unimaginable loss, Richie’s legacy will live on,” his family posted on a GoFundMe page. “He was able to give the gift of life to others through organ donation, helping those in need even in his final moments.”
Kin described O’Brien as “a proud Local 638 Steamfitter who went to work every day to provide for his family and give his wife, Ronni, and their two daughters, Kylie and Mia, the life they deserve.”
The cyclist, 32, was also thrown from his bike after the crash and was treated at the scene for his injuries, police said.
The NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is continuing to review the case.
