A public visitation was held Sunday for Gonzalo Torres Perez, a 70-year-old Rocky Mount bicyclist who died after being struck by a car. Family and friends honored his life and called for safer streets.

Community Comes Together

Perez was known throughout Rocky Mount for riding his bike with his dog, Oso, by his side. He was taken to UNC Health Nash and later airlifted to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville after the crash. The driver remained on the scene, police said.

Loved ones spoke about Perez’s kind heart and work ethic, describing him as a familiar face around Rocky Mount. His nephew, Benjamin Alvarez, said, ‘Today, we have a ceremony for the community because we cannot just keep Gonzalo to ourselves. We know Gonzalo belongs to all of this community.’

Randy Adcox, a friend of Perez’s, met him by chance in 2018 at a McDonald’s. Despite a language barrier, the two quickly became friends. Adcox said he would often stop to give Perez and his bike a ride whenever he saw him walking or cycling around town.

Alvarez called for better bike infrastructure in the city, saying improvements could help prevent similar tragedies. ‘We’d like to see some effort made to put in some sidewalks and bike lanes,’ Adcox said. ‘The streets that Gonzalo typically rode his bike on had neither.’

Alvarez also urged drivers to stay alert for pedestrians walking and riding bikes. ‘Let’s be more safe on the streets when we’re driving, because unfortunately for us, it was a loved one, and I do not want it to be one of your loved ones to suffer,’ he said.

Perez’s brother-in-law, Jose Alvarez, ended an interview with a prayer, thanking the community for their support during this difficult time.

Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.