An outpouring of support from the BMX community emerged this weekend as news spread of the death of 14-year-old BMX rider Bryce Buchholz, who was struck by a car and killed on Thursday night in Lancaster, N.Y.
Buchholz was riding home on his Aaron Ross signature Sunday Bike when he was struck by an SUV driven by 23-year-old Michael Ettipio, who fled the scene and was later apprehended by witness Benny Kirkland. Ettipio was charged with vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, leaving the scene of an accident and failure to keep right, according to Lancaster Police Chief Gerald Gill.
BMX pros such as Aaron Ross, Tom Dugan and Terry Adams took to Twitter and Instagram on Friday night, mourning the loss of Buchholz, a local in the Buffalo, N.Y. BMX scene. Ross posted a photo of himself holding a handwritten sign that read "RIP Bryce Buchholz, #don't drink and drive." Dugan and Adams followed with similar statements and photos soon after.
According to Stranger Bikes pro Charlie Crumlish, also a Buffalo, N.Y. local, "My stomach turned when I heard the news, I knew the kid from the local skatepark in Buffalo and the accident happened not ten minutes from my house. Five minutes from Sunday Bikes owner Jim Cielencki's old place as well."
Buchholz was an eighth grader at Lancaster Middle School. In honor of his favorite color orange, which also adorned his Aaron Ross signature Sunday Bike, friends and fellow students wore orange on Friday to school.
Ettipio is being held on $25,000 bail and will appear in Lancaster court on May 9 for a felony hearing.
