FORT LAUDERDALE — A father and grandfather killed while riding a bicycle in downtown Fort Lauderdale Thursday was identified Friday, though police have not decided whether the driver who hit him will be charged.
William Wedzik was riding on the Seventh Avenue Bridge about 7:30 a.m. Thursday, police say, when a car hit him, drove off, then returned to the scene.
Wedzik had three daughters and five grandchildren, one of his daughters told the Sun Sentinel on Friday. He was 56 years old when he died. His family knew him as “Buffalo Bill,” according to a GoFundMe posted by another of his daughters, a “gentle giant” who had recovered from addiction six years ago.
“He fought so hard to have the perfect little life for him and his dog Tiny,” the GoFundMe page reads, “even if it meant taking his bike to and from work everyday.”
The driver who hit Wedzik stopped at the bottom of the bridge and returned to the scene, Fort Lauderdale Det. Ali Adamson said in a media release. Roads were shut down and the bridge remained in the closed position to boats while traffic homicide detectives investigated the crash.
As of Friday morning, detectives were continuing to investigate to determine whether to charge the driver or issue him a traffic citation, Adamson said. Police have not identified him.
Anyone with information or who may have witnessed this crash should contact Investigator Paul Brown at 954-828-5755.