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41-Year-Old Father of 2 Killed After Being Struck by Bike in Central Park
Police said the bicyclist was riding against traffic when he struck O'Brien, who later died from severe head trauma.
Richard O'Brien, 41, of Port Jefferson Station died Sunday, four days after a 32-year-old cyclist struck him on East Drive near 84th Street in Central Park, causing severe head trauma.
O'Brien was walking to work around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23 when a northbound cyclist traveling against traffic struck him, knocking him to the ground.
The father of two was a "proud Local 638 Steamfitter" who "went to work every day to provide for his family," leaving behind daughters Kylie and Mia and a devoted stay-at-home mom wife.
A GoFundMe page had nearly reached its $150,000 goal by Tuesday morning to help the family pay their mortgage; O'Brien's organ donation provided a final gift to others in need.
The NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad was still examining crash mechanics by Tuesday, with police uncertain whether the cyclist would face charges; this marks the first pedestrian fatality from a non-electric cyclist in Central Park since 2014.