Rich O’Brien, a 41-year-old father of two, died Sunday, four days after a 32-year-old cyclist struck him as he walked to work on Central Park’s West Drive. Police said O’Brien suffered severe head trauma; the investigation is ongoing.
Police said the crash happened at about 6:36 a.m. on Sept. 23 near West 84th Street, with O’Brien walking in the roadway as the cyclist traveled north on West Drive. The cyclist was thrown from the bicycle and suffered minor injuries; O’Brien was taken to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in critical condition.
Family friend Casey Bartels created a GoFundMe for O’Brien’s family and said he was a Local 638 steamfitter who supported his wife, Ronni, and their daughters, Kylie and Mia. Bartels said O’Brien donated organs in his final moments.
