In Jose Hernandez Solano’s final moments, his friends and family were by his side.
The 52-year-old, who was struck by a hit-and-run driver in St. Paul a week and a half ago, was taken off life support early Thursday, and some of his organs were donated.
“We’re remembering the wonderful human he was and hopefully the people who get his organs will carry on his awesome spirit,” said Megan Gall, general manager at Brasa Rotisserie on Grand Avenue, where Hernandez Solano was a dishwasher.
Hernandez Solano was bicyling home from work when he was struck by a westbound sport-utility vehicle shortly after midnight Nov. 26 at West Seventh Street and Grand Avenue. Police continue to look for the driver.
Hernandez Solano suffered major brain damage and a crushed and severed spine, according to a GoFundMe site. He underwent two surgeries for swelling in the brain.
People have donated more than $16,000 to the site, which allowed Hernandez Solano’s two brothers to travel to Minnesota from other states, as well as his 26-year-old son who is a college student in Mexico, Gall said.
Hernandez Solano’s son arrived Tuesday.
“The Mexican consulate was great in assisting us, but it was very, very difficult to get him here because there were issues at the border and with getting him approved,” Gall said.
Hernandez Solano was one of 13 children, and is also survived by his parents; he was a father of three.
“He was a very generous, funny guy, always entertaining, kind of a jokester around here,” Gall said. “He was very well liked and an incredibly hard worker.”
Hernandez Solano was an avid bicyclist who took safety seriously, though he had also faced danger about three weeks before the crash that took his life. He was biking to work when a vehicle hit him and drove away; his arm was banged up and he had noted the driver was texting, according to Gall.
“It’s amazing how many people have reached out in the community since this happened, sharing stories of tragedy and drivers not paying attention,” Gall said. “It seems like things are easily preventable if drivers put down their phones and pay attention.”
People are planning to have a funeral locally for Hernandez Solano and fundraising continues on the GoFundMe site, so his body can be transported to Mexico for burial, Gall said.
“I think there’s a little sense of peace now — it’s been a long week and a half of ups and downs, and emotionally exhausting,” Gall said Thursday. “But there is definitely an open wound of not knowing who did this or having that closure.”
Investigators have determined that the vehicle that struck Hernandez Solano was a 2008 to 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe in the color of platinum sage metallic, which can look light green, silver or beige, depending on the lighting, according to police. The suspect vehicle has dark-colored rims and front-end damage and will be missing its passenger-side mirror.
Police have asked anyone with information to contact them at 651-266-5727.