A 41-year-old New York man has died four days after he was struck by a cyclist while walking through Central Park on his way to work, leaving his wife, two daughters and coworkers mourning his sudden loss.
Richie O’Brien was walking in the park near West 84th Street at about 6:36 a.m. on September 23 when a northbound cyclist collided with him, according to police. The crash left O’Brien with a severe head injury. The 32-year-old cyclist was also thrown from his bicycle and suffered minor injuries.
O’Brien was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he remained in critical condition. He died Sunday, September 27, according to police and his family.
O’Brien was a union steamfitter and was on his way to work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art when the collision occurred. Friends described him as a hardworking husband and father whose family was at the center of his life.
Casey Bartels, a friend and coworker, said the loss has left O’Brien’s wife and two daughters facing an entirely different future.
“He was a great father,” Bartels said, remembering O’Brien as someone who worked hard to provide for his family.
Friends Rally Around O’Brien’s Family
In the days following the crash, friends and loved ones have focused on supporting O’Brien’s family. A fundraiser has been established to help his wife and children cope with the financial impact of losing a primary provider.
The tragedy has also prompted renewed conversations among people who use Central Park about how cyclists and pedestrians share the park’s roads.
Some cyclists and pedestrians have raised concerns about speed, traffic flow and enforcement of park rules. The Central Park Conservancy has separately called for additional safety measures on the park drives, including keeping a 15-mph speed limit in place and improving enforcement.
The crash is still under investigation by the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad. Police have not announced charges against the cyclist in connection with O’Brien’s death.
For O’Brien’s family and friends, however, the investigation is only one part of what remains. They are now preparing to move forward without a husband, father and friend they say devoted much of his life to caring for the people closest to him.
