‘More than a bicyclist.’ GoFundMe launched for Bradenton man killed in crash

A GoFundMe has been started to support the funeral expenses of a Bradenton man who died while riding his bike last month.

Patrick Franklin Sr., 67, was cycling on El Conquistador Parkway in Bradenton when he was struck by a flatbed truck towing a trailer on Jan. 22. He died in the collision, and his family has started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for funeral and memorial expenses.

Franklin, who was part of the Village Idiots Cycling Club, was passionate about biking and had done the same 10-mile route stretching down El Conquistador Parkway nearly every day, according to his daughter, Heather Franklin.

The day before he died, he completed the route in record time, Heather told the Bradenton Herald.

A Florida Highway Patrol into the crash is ongoing, troopers say.

Franklin, who worked as a fleet manager for Woodruff & Sons, spent his life doing physical labor and “was an incredibly hard worker,” his daughter said. Franklin had officially retired on Dec. 31, about three weeks before his death.

GoFundMe launched for Bradenton cyclist

“This was his time. He finally got to a point where he could put himself first and do things he loved, and being on his bike was something that he loved,” Heather said.

Described by Heather as a selfless person who cared deeply about others, Franklin’s “happiness was dependent on the happiness of people around him.”

According to the League of American Bicyclists, Florida had an average annual bicyclist death rate of 143 people per year from 2014 to 2018. From 2019 to 2023, that rate had increased to 197 bicyclists, a 38% increase .

“All that we really want… is just for people to be aware of the roads when they’re driving. Be aware of bicycles, bicycle lanes,” Heather said. “People on bikes are mothers, fathers, children. They are more than a bicyclist.”

As of Monday afternoon, the GoFundMe had raised over $9,000 of its $21,000 goal.