“I Wished They Would Have Stayed” – Family Mourns 75-Year-Old Cyclist Killed in Hit-and-Run During Thanksgiving Festivities, Wishes Assailant Had Offered Help

Engulfing the joys of Thanksgiving celebrations, tragedy struck in DeKalb County as it mourned the loss of one resident. After falling victim to a brutal hit-and-run crash, a senior cycling enthusiast’s life was cut short on December 9. As Barry Collier pedaled in enjoyment, his venture turned fatal when a reckless car crossed his path. 

Out for a customary pre-Thanksgiving ride, the retired Norfolk Southern engineer had no idea of what lay ahead for his cycling trip. While the collision left him battling for his life, the scene became grimmer when the driver fled without repercussions. With this harrowing accident making news, the victims’ sister was left in disbelief, unable to realize why the alleged car driver did not help her unfortunate brother. 

Ruthless driving diminishes cycling plans

Suffering life-altering injuries, the 75-year-old cycling enthusiast met with his unforgiving demise under intensive medical care. While the alleged driver’s inconsiderate escape devastated his already minimal chances of survival, Collier’s family was left in sudden grief. 

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Recalling how the senior cycling addict had decided to squeeze in a quick ride, his daughter, Rashida, mentioned receiving a notification on her phone. Signaling the horror that awaited her at the scene, she rushed to her father, locating him when the elderly man was critically injured. 

With his neck and back broken by the crash’s impacts, she found the weight of helplessness engulfing her hopes. “I wished they would have stayed and not left him on the side of the road” she stated in tears, while adding, “He didn’t deserve that.” As the authorities sparked an investigation into this cycling tragedy, they seemingly found leads in a blue sedan being involved, with much more left for disclosure. 

Wave of hit-and-run accidents ignite concerns

Regrettably, the stance of hit-and-run accidents claiming cycling lovers’ lives was not limited to just DeKalb County, as the Long Beach region saw its own version. Recorded along the intersection of California Avenue and Harding Street, a deadly crash left a 29-year-old suffering from its severe consequences. 

With detectives responding to the scene around 7:55 in the morning of July 9, they found the unfortunate cycling enthusiast being intentionally struck by a vehicle. While the car was later notified as a dark-tinted sedan, the unsuspecting rider, Leobardo Cervantes, was rushed to a hospital, where he courageously battled for his life. 

However, snatching his life away too soon, the rider’s demise was declared on July 26, sparking a thorough investigation in the following months. And now, on December 6, a 16-year-old boy, already in custody for unrelated charges, was booked on suspicion of foul play in connection with this cycling mishap. 

While the motives behind this act of cycling violence remain unknown, legal enforcement officials have expressed continuing their inspection. Undeniably, these casualties left unimaginable voids in the victims’ families, who hoped for their souls to rest in peace while still struggling to contain the harsh reality. 

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