Darren Scott Drake
Darren Scott Drake
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Age: 32
Location:
Hudson River Greenway Bike Path
at Canal street
New York , NY
United States
On October 31 a driver drove a truck onto the Hudson River Greenway
Bike Path at Houston Street and intentially struck many cyclists and
pedestrians. The story was covered widely in the media which also
reported on the lives of those killed that day, including the BBC, NY Daily News and The NY Times
We installed a ghost bike for the 8 cyclists that lost their lives that day on the greenway at Canal street.
One cyclist killed that day was Darren Drake. His life and death was reported upon in many media outlets, including the Bergen Record
The Darren Drake Foundation was created to honor his legacy and pursue
the ideals and vision about which he was so passionate. This foundation
will award scholarships to deserving high school students interested in
pursuing trade schools in lieu of college. They organize an annual walk in his memory among other fundraisers.
According to his obituary
Born in New York City, Darren lived most of his life in New Milford [NJ]
where he was active in his community, formerly serving as the President
of the New Milford Board of Education. Darren was a Project Manager for
Moody's Analytics in New York City. He received a BA in Political
Science from Rutgers University's School of Arts and Sciences as well as
a MS in Management Information Systems from Fairleigh Dickinson
University. Darren was currently working to earn a second master's
degree at Steven's Institute of Technology. He is the loving son of
Barbara (nee Wilkens) and James "Jimmy" Drake.
H.R.4942 - The Darren Drake Act - which seeks to mitigate risk of intentional attacks using rental vehicles was introduced to Congress in 2019.
from USA Today
NEW MILFORD, N.J. — Darren Drake thought he was free from danger as he biked down a Hudson River path in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday.
It was his recess, his everyday routine.
"He felt safe," said Barbara Drake, Darren's mother.
But on that chilly afternoon, he was anything but.
Drake,
who would have turned 33 this month, was one of eight people killed
when authorities say an Uzbeki immigrant from Paterson, N.J., sped down
the path in a rented truck, knocking down pedestrians and cyclists
before ramming a school bus...
...
James Drake, who initially wrestled with feelings of anger toward his son's killer, expressed only weariness Thursday.
"To be angry is useless," said James Drake. "There's nothing I can do about it. What am I going to do, sue him?"
Instead, Darren's parents said they found comfort from a community that was grieving with them.
Since
the attack, the Drakes have been overwhelmed with support. On Thursday,
their dining room and kitchen were filled with gifts of condolence.
Amid the baskets of semi-tropical house plants, bouquets of flowers,
platters of sandwiches and a heaping bowl of macaroni salad, a handwoven
blanket lay in a shopping bag — a gift from an unknown stranger who
wrote, simply, "I hope it warms your heart, just a little."
Some of the mourners who have called and knocked took the couple by surprise.
"We
didn't even know how many lives he's touched," Barbara Drake said,
adding she and her husband have heard this week from many of her son's
former classmates. "He was still in touch with people he went to grammar
school with. We never knew."
As they planned their only child's funeral, Barbara Drake said it was cathartic for her to talk about Darren.
"I like to get it out," she said. "The reason we're doing this interview is to let everyone know what a wonderful person he is."
Darren was in very good spirits in recent weeks,
his parents said. He lost 93 pounds — down to 307 pounds — through
cycling and watching what he ate. In fact, his parents said, their son
recently found that most of his clothes were too big, and they bought
him a $600 suit from Men's Wearhouse.
It was
the result of a friendly bet between the three of them, and the couple
said Darren won because he had lost so much weight.
On
Thursday, many of Darren's clothes had been packed in garbage bags on
the floor of his bedroom, awaiting delivery to a veterans' charity.
As the Drakes spoke Thursday of their beloved son, the phone rang continuously — more mourners seeking to pay their condolences.
Then, a local police officer knocked on the front door to offer his support.
Then, after receiving comfort from all of those unexpected places, they found it where it always had been: Their son's bedroom.
It
was on the small table, across from Darren's campaign signs and
diplomas, and a few feet away from his handsome collection of
cufflinks.
It was a portrait of Darren, smiling.
---
Darren's family sued NYC and the Hudson River Park Trust because they knew cars could access the bike lane but didn't do anything about it.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Age: 32
Location:
Hudson River Greenway Bike Path
at Canal street
New York , NY
United States
On October 31 a driver drove a truck onto the Hudson River Greenway
Bike Path at Houston Street and intentially struck many cyclists and
pedestrians. The story was covered widely in the media which also
reported on the lives of those killed that day, including the BBC, NY Daily News and The NY Times
We installed a ghost bike for the 8 cyclists that lost their lives that day on the greenway at Canal street.
One cyclist killed that day was Darren Drake. His life and death was reported upon in many media outlets, including the Bergen Record
The Darren Drake Foundation was created to honor his legacy and pursue
the ideals and vision about which he was so passionate. This foundation
will award scholarships to deserving high school students interested in
pursuing trade schools in lieu of college. They organize an annual walk in his memory among other fundraisers.
According to his obituary
Born in New York City, Darren lived most of his life in New Milford [NJ]
where he was active in his community, formerly serving as the President
of the New Milford Board of Education. Darren was a Project Manager for
Moody's Analytics in New York City. He received a BA in Political
Science from Rutgers University's School of Arts and Sciences as well as
a MS in Management Information Systems from Fairleigh Dickinson
University. Darren was currently working to earn a second master's
degree at Steven's Institute of Technology. He is the loving son of
Barbara (nee Wilkens) and James "Jimmy" Drake.
H.R.4942 - The Darren Drake Act - which seeks to mitigate risk of intentional attacks using rental vehicles was introduced to Congress in 2019.
from USA Today
NEW MILFORD, N.J. — Darren Drake thought he was free from danger as he biked down a Hudson River path in Lower Manhattan on Tuesday.
It was his recess, his everyday routine.
"He felt safe," said Barbara Drake, Darren's mother.
But on that chilly afternoon, he was anything but.
Drake,
who would have turned 33 this month, was one of eight people killed
when authorities say an Uzbeki immigrant from Paterson, N.J., sped down
the path in a rented truck, knocking down pedestrians and cyclists
before ramming a school bus...
...
James Drake, who initially wrestled with feelings of anger toward his son's killer, expressed only weariness Thursday.
"To be angry is useless," said James Drake. "There's nothing I can do about it. What am I going to do, sue him?"
Instead, Darren's parents said they found comfort from a community that was grieving with them.
Since
the attack, the Drakes have been overwhelmed with support. On Thursday,
their dining room and kitchen were filled with gifts of condolence.
Amid the baskets of semi-tropical house plants, bouquets of flowers,
platters of sandwiches and a heaping bowl of macaroni salad, a handwoven
blanket lay in a shopping bag — a gift from an unknown stranger who
wrote, simply, "I hope it warms your heart, just a little."
Some of the mourners who have called and knocked took the couple by surprise.
"We
didn't even know how many lives he's touched," Barbara Drake said,
adding she and her husband have heard this week from many of her son's
former classmates. "He was still in touch with people he went to grammar
school with. We never knew."
As they planned their only child's funeral, Barbara Drake said it was cathartic for her to talk about Darren.
"I like to get it out," she said. "The reason we're doing this interview is to let everyone know what a wonderful person he is."
Darren was in very good spirits in recent weeks,
his parents said. He lost 93 pounds — down to 307 pounds — through
cycling and watching what he ate. In fact, his parents said, their son
recently found that most of his clothes were too big, and they bought
him a $600 suit from Men's Wearhouse.
It was
the result of a friendly bet between the three of them, and the couple
said Darren won because he had lost so much weight.
On
Thursday, many of Darren's clothes had been packed in garbage bags on
the floor of his bedroom, awaiting delivery to a veterans' charity.
As the Drakes spoke Thursday of their beloved son, the phone rang continuously — more mourners seeking to pay their condolences.
Then, a local police officer knocked on the front door to offer his support.
Then, after receiving comfort from all of those unexpected places, they found it where it always had been: Their son's bedroom.
It
was on the small table, across from Darren's campaign signs and
diplomas, and a few feet away from his handsome collection of
cufflinks.
It was a portrait of Darren, smiling.
---
Darren's family sued NYC and the Hudson River Park Trust because they knew cars could access the bike lane but didn't do anything about it.