TJ Day liked riding his bike to and from work at Walgreens. It helped him stay fit and gave him time to wind down in the evening.
He wore a reflective vest, helmet and added lights to the front and back of his bike for safety. He did everything right, said his sister Kelli Day.
Still, TJ was hit by a car on his way home from work on Feb. 18.
Another driver who found him in a snowbank on Lovers Lane near Stryker Way after the hit-and-run. That driver stayed in contact, and later offered to buy TJ a new bike. But in the meantime, supporters of TJ had already raised more than $20,000 to buy him a car.
As of Thursday, March 6, a GoFundMe Kelli organized has raised $23,427, with a goal of $28,000.
TJ has always been apprehensive about driving, but now he’s more nervous of biking, Kelli said. The generosity of his community will help him get a safe and reliable car.
I feel like everybody has the wrong takeaway here. The villagers bought him a car, which isn’t the issue here. Just because you’re inside a car during a hit and run doesn’t mean you’re not still the victim of a hit and run.
I feel like this sub has the wrong idea too. Getting back on a bike, or using public transportation doesn’t fix the issue either.
Everybody is looking at this as a car issue. This is an asshole issue. You CAN drive a car safely. Or, if you hit someone you CAN stop to make sure they’re ok.
The issue here is, somewhere out there in the city is someone who injured someone else, and then fled. The asshole is the issue. The car was simply a tool.
Arrest the asshole! (And this coming from someone who’s also anti-police for the most part)