A dedicated New York steamfitter and father of two died after a bicyclist rammed him on his morning walk to work in Central Park, leaving his family and union brothers reeling.
Richie O’Brien, 41, was walking through Central Park toward a steamfitter job near the Metropolitan Museum of Art around 6:35 a.m. on Sept. 23 when a 32-year-old cyclist heading north on the park’s East Drive near East 84th Street slammed into him, The Post reported.
The impact threw O’Brien off his feet. He suffered severe head trauma and was rushed to Weill Cornell Medical Center. He succumbed to his injuries on Sunday, his family said.
The cyclist was also thrown from his bike and treated at the scene for injuries, police said. The NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad is still reviewing the case. No arrests or charges have been announced.
O’Brien was a proud Local 638 steamfitter. Kin described him as a man who went to work every day to provide for his wife, Ronni, and their two daughters, Kylie and Mia, “the life they deserve.”
Brian Hunt, president of the steamfitters’ union, told The Post on Monday that O’Brien had been working on a project at the nearby Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Hunt said O’Brien embodied the kind of worker who keeps the city running.
"Like many of us here in New York City, Richie woke up early every morning and came to work to help keep the New York City economy moving by building the projects that we build every day here."
Hunt called him an example for blue-collar and white-collar workers alike in Manhattan.
"He was an example of what a good steamfitter is supposed to be, and for anybody working blue collar in the city, or anybody working white collar and anybody working in Manhattan."
The loss hit the job site hard. “Everybody is still just reeling from the loss of Richie,” Hunt said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen moving forward.”
Loved ones launched a GoFundMe for the O’Brien family and posted a tribute that mixed grief with gratitude.
"Although our hearts are broken by this unimaginable loss, Richie’s legacy will live on."
They also said he donated organs after the crash.
"He was able to give the gift of life to others through organ donation, helping those in need even in his final moments."
Hunt did not assign blame in public comments. He did stress how unforgiving the city’s commute can be for anyone on foot or on wheels.
"Manhattan is a difficult place for commuters. Everybody has to pay attention, whether you’re on a vehicle that has wheels, or if you’re a pedestrian, everybody has to pay attention because it’s Manhattan."
That warning lands differently when a father walking to a construction job never makes it home. O’Brien left for work like countless other New Yorkers. A bicycle collision on a park drive ended that routine and left two young daughters without their dad.
Police have not released the cyclist’s name or said whether speed, right-of-way, or other factors played a role. The Collision Investigation Squad’s review continues. Until that work is finished, the public record is spare: a working man was hit, badly hurt, and did not survive.
A city that runs on early risers and skilled trades cannot shrug off a father killed on his way to the job. Accountability and basic care on shared roads are not optional when families are left to pick up the pieces.
