Vigil held for teen bicyclist killed in Olney hit-and-run

BREWERYTOWN (WPVI) -- Family and friends gathered to remember the victim of a young bicyclist who was killed in a hit-and-run crash in the Olney section of Philadelphia.

His mother shed tears during the gathering in honor of 19-year-old Lorenzo Velazquez on Friday night outside his home on North Darien Street in the Brewerytown section.

His sister, Alondra Pacheco said, "Ten minutes prior to his accident, he texted my mom that he's coming home. He's safe and coming home. And he never came home."

Police say Velazquez was biking when he was struck and killed by a white car at East Ashdale and C streets.

The driver didn't stop.

Friends took an honorary ride past the vigil, many remembering him as a generous and positive force within their group.

"No matter what the worst of times was, he'd give you speeches, send you messages, always make you happy," said Anthony Hernandez.

"We have one less rider. One less. We ride as a crew and now we don't have him. That's crazy," said Gabriel Ramos.

Alondra says her brother used biking to help those in trouble.

"If someone was struggling on the streets, he'd turn them to biking. Get the stress out," she said.

Hours after the crash, police found the car less than a mile away and took the owner in for questioning. That person has since been released.

Velazquez's sister says her family is broken-hearted and saddened that she'll never see what her brother could have become.

"He was about to start college Tuesday. Going to training in the Navy in October. He just opened a new chapter. He was about to live his life. He didn't get a chance to," Alondra said.

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