Cyclists Berate People Trying To Save Dying Dad Struck By Bike In Central Park

Central Park cyclists berated good Samaritans who rushed to help a dying father after he was struck by a bike.

Richie O’Brien was walking through Central Park on his way to work as a steamfitter around 6:30 a.m. on Sept. 23 when a cyclist traveling north on the park’s East Drive near East 84th Street struck him, according to a GoFundMe campaign organized by his family.

Father of Two Dies Days After Being Struck by Cyclist in Central Park https://t.co/f6uBxhfEu0 pic.twitter.com/lDFb3pwR6M

The collision sent the 41-year-old father to the ground with severe head injuries. He was rushed to Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries Sunday, according to a New York Post (NYP) report. (RELATED: Californians Trade In Over 1,000 E-Bikes As Injuries Abound Nationwide)

At the time of the crash, cyclists, runners and pedestrians were moving through the still-dim park.

Kin said O’Brien was a Local 638 steamfitter who worked each day to support his family and provide his wife, Ronni, and their two daughters, 12-year-old Kylie and 8-year-old Mia, with the life he wanted for them.

Witness Laura Sackler, who spoke to the NYP, said she heard the collision while finishing her morning run near the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

According to Sackler, “I heard the impact and turned around, and tragically, Richie and the cyclist were both on the ground.”

“Richie unfortunately was unconscious from that moment forward and never gained consciousness. He was bleeding,” she added.

The 32-year-old cyclist sat up visibly shaken as bystanders, including a doctor, gathered around O’Brien.

“He was just in disbelief because he had been part of something. He was like, ‘I can’t believe this,’” Sackler told the NYP. “That was about it. He just sat there in silence most of the time.”

Sackler said some cyclists continued riding past the scene and yelled at bystanders to move. (RELATED: British Cyclist Finlay Tarling Dead At 19 After ‘Serious Accident’ During Portugal Race)

“There were some aggressive cyclists going by during this tragic moment who were yelling at us to move out of the way because we were in their way causing problems,” she said.

Sackler said cyclists often use the park “like a trackway” for training and speed work, adding that while she supports cyclists and runners sharing Central Park, “there’s serious issues with speed.”

An ambulance arrived about 20 minutes later, Sackler said, while the 32-year-old cyclist was treated at the scene and declined an ambulance; authorities have not identified him or said whether he will face charges.

O’Brien died early Sunday with his wife, Ronni, by his side, according to the family fundraiser.

His brother-in-law, Jason Bullara, thanked the strangers who stayed with O’Brien in Central Park during “one of the worst moments of Rich’s life” in a heartfelt Reddit post, according to the NYP.

Bullara also revealed that O’Brien donated three organs before his death.

“Even at the end of his life, he was able to give other people a chance at theirs,” Bullara wrote. “He was, quite simply, the best person I knew.”

“And somehow, even in death, he was still giving to other people.” (RELATED: LIVALL’s New $329 PikaBoost 2 Lite Lets You Turn Any Bike Electric in Under a Minute)

The Central Park Conservancy also issued a statement calling on the Department of Transportation, the mayor’s office, and City Council to step up enforcement of existing rules, improve infrastructure around the park, and support legislation aimed at making the park’s Drives safer, according to the press release.

“It is unacceptable that walkers, runners, cyclists, tourists and locals alike should have to fear injury or worse while enjoying a greenspace that has served as a peaceful respite and backyard for millions of New Yorkers for more than 150 years. Keeping everyone who uses Central Park safe must be our highest priority,” the Central Park Conservancy said.