Grandfather, 94, dies in tricycle accident near Windsor

(KRON) — A grandfather was riding his tricycle near Windsor when he was struck by a car and suffered fatal injuries. Fernando Velazquez, 94, loved riding on his tricycle for exercise, family members said.

“Riding his tricycle every day kept him feeling young, and he often joked that it was his ‘secret to a long life,'” Velazquez’s grieving family wrote on a verified GoFundMe page.

“He was struck and killed by a reckless driver while doing what he loved most — riding his tricycle around town, staying active, and spreading joy.”

The fatal accident happened on Sept. 20 just after 1 p.m. on Old Redwood Highway near Shiloh Road, the California Highway Patrol Santa Rosa said.

“A bicyclist was stopped on the northbound right-hand shoulder of Old Redwood Highway when a Range Rover drifted onto the shoulder, striking the cyclist,” the CHP wrote.

The Range Rover driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, the CHP said.

Fernando frequently attended mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, where he offered prayers and positivity to anyone who needed it, the GoFundMe page states.

His family is raising donations for the grandfather’s funeral, as well as “any legal costs as we pursue justice for the careless actions that took him from us,” the page writes.

Anyone with information about the Sept. 20 crash is encouraged to contact investigators at the CHP Santa Rosa office by calling 708-806-5600.