Skating community reacts to fellow skateboarder's death
DURHAM (WTVD) -- Ben Leone and Braden Ogle are regulars at the skate park in Durham Central Park. While they didn't know the victim of this weekend's deadly skateboarding accident, they said the news still hits hard.
"You definitely think, that could be you or someone you know..." says Braden Ogle.
The victim has been identified as 23-year-old Shamus Reilly. He died at the hospital after he rode into the path of a pickup truck on Holloway Street in Durham Saturday morning.
Police said Reilly didn't have the right of way when he was hit. It's a painful reminder for other skaters to follow the rules of the road.
"Just following those rules, knowing safety techniques, and knowing your limits...it's a sport where anywhere you go, even on the sign down here, it says you have to skate at your own risk," warns Leone.
Leone advocates wearing the proper safety gear and knowing stopping techniques, as well as rules of where you can and can't skate. He also suggests beginners take lessons or tips from veteran skaters. Of course, these are all tips that come too late for Reilly.
"If anything, it brings the community a little closer together, but at the same time you're right, it definitely puts a dark cloud and a damper on things," admitted Ogle.
This latest death follows the death of another skateboarder Ogle and Leone did know. 14-year-old Jaydn Wilkins died in March after he was hit while running across Duke Street, holding his board. Like Reilly, Wilkins did not have the right of way at the time.
