BRADENTON, Fla.-- A lopsided memorial sits chained to a crooked pole on Lorraine Road in Lakewood Ranch.
- Triathlete's memorial left damaged
- Sits where Nick Wilson was struck & killed while training
- Bike memorial also stood to remind drivers to stay alert
The bike, painted white and once fixed with a plaque, was found last week crushed and cracked with mangled tires. It was placed there in honor of Bradenton resident Nick Wilson, who was struck and killed while biking on that stretch of road in late June.
"It's just not right to stab everybody in the heart just so shortly after we've gone through this," explained Nick's wife, Kristina Wilson.
Wilson, 34, was going for a long distance bike ride as part of triathlon training when he was struck from behind by an SUV. He was an experienced EMT who volunteered for years in Manatee County, before going on to work at Manatee Memorial Hospital. He was also the father of a 4-year-old son and baby girl.
Nick's friend thought placing a 'ghost bike' at the site would be the perfect memorial, while serving as a reminder for drivers to stay alert and slow down.
"The bike was a lot about awareness, about commemorating, just trying to let others know to be careful," Kristina said.
Kristina and her family want to know if the damage was from an accident, or something more deliberate.
"It's just kind of heartbreaking to see something that is kind of a part of you and what you've gone through, just really be trashed," she stated.
Nick's friends quickly bought another bike and fixed a new memorial just across the street. They are hoping the new one will stay beautiful for years to come.
The 23-year-old Jacksonville man who struck Wilson was not injured. It is unclear if he is facing charges.