Bicyclist killed in hit-and-run spent decades collecting loose change for grandchildren’s college education

3 years ago 409

Bob Rathje, 79, collected much than $7K successful 20 years portion riding bike, household says

Search continues for section gramps killed by a hit-and tally driver

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The household of a 79-year-old Jacksonville gramps is pleading for the operator who deed and killed their loved 1 portion helium was riding his bicycle to travel forward.

Bob Rathje was successful the motorcycle lane traveling westbound connected Beach Boulevard adjacent I-295 this past Saturday greeting erstwhile helium was hit, his household said. He aboriginal died from his injuries.

Family members told News4Jax that implicit the past 20 years, Rathje has collected much than $7,000 that helium recovered portion riding his motorcycle to assistance wage for his grandchildren’s assemblage education.

They said it’s what helium was doing erstwhile helium was killed past Saturday morning.

Rathje’s wife, Jinny, fought backmost tears arsenic she explained that she and her hubby were joined for 51 years. They person 2 children and 4 grandchildren.

Her hubby loved to instrumentality agelong motorcycle rides -- collecting coins on the way.

Rathje’s daughter, Ellen, said the operator of the car that deed her begetter pulled implicit and got out. She said 2 witnesses astatine the country heard the operator accidental thing hurtful earlier taking off.

″The idiosyncratic who deed him stopped, got retired of his car and said, ‘Wow. This truly ruins my day.’ And helium got backmost successful his car and left,” she explained.

The household said Rathje suffered 7 breached ribs, a fractured sternum and a partially collapsed lung. He died from interior bleeding days later. They said JSO is looking for a grey Hyundai Sonata, apt a 2015-2019 model.

News4Jax has requested further accusation from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

The household said aggregate radical whitethorn person seen the operator connected the time of the mishap and person accusation that tin assistance constabulary way down the antheral responsible.

″We can’t bring my dada backmost but if you tin springiness america that bid by helping to find who did this to my dada that would beryllium truly astonishing for my family,” Ellen Rathje said.

According to the family, Det. Chris Brooks has been assigned to the case. To interaction him with accusation that tin assistance successful the investigation, telephone JSO astatine its mainline -- 904-630-0500.