'Gonzalo belongs to all of this community': Rocky Mount honors bicyclist killed in crash

A public visitation was held Sunday for a Rocky Mount bicyclist who died after being struck by a car, as family and friends honored his life and called for safer streets.

70-year-old Gonzalo Torres Perez died Thursday from injuries he suffered in Tuesday's crash, according to family. Rocky Mount police said Perez was riding his bike in the 1800 block of Thomas A. Betts Parkway when he was hit by a car.

Perez was taken to UNC Health Nash and later airlifted to ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville. The driver remained on scene, police said.

Loved ones spoke to WRAL before Sunday's service at Matthews Family Mortuary, saying Perez meant too much to the community to mourn him privately.

"Today, we have a ceremony for the community because we cannot just keep Gonzalo to ourselves," Benjamin Alvarez, Perez's nephew, said. "We know Gonzalo belongs to all of this community."

Perez was known throughout Rocky Mount for riding his bike with his dog, Oso, by his side.

Randy Adcox met Perez by chance in 2018 at a McDonald's. Although Perez mainly spoke Spanish and Adcox spoke no Spanish, the two quickly became friends.

"With some sign language and some pointing back and forth, I think I offered him a ride home in my pickup truck," Adcox said. "We didn't have a whole lot of conversation because of the language barrier there, but there was something about him that I knew was special."

From that day forward, Adcox said he would often stop to give Perez and his bike a ride whenever he saw him walking or cycling around town.

Alvarez described his uncle as "Superman," saying his work ethic and kind heart made him a familiar face around Rocky Mount. He also called for better bike infrastructure in the city, saying improvements could help prevent similar tragedies.

"We'd like to see some effort made to put in some sidewalks and bike lanes," Adcox said. "The streets that Gonzalo typically rode his bike on had neither."

Alvarez also urged drivers to stay alert for pedestrians walking and riding bikes.

"Let's be more safe on the streets when we're driving, because unfortunately for us, it was a loved one, and I do not want it to be one of your loved ones to suffer," he said.

WRAL also spoke with Perez's brother-in-law, Jose Alvarez. He ended the interview with a prayer.

"Thank you to the entire community, blessed God, for your support and for standing with Gonzalo's family during this difficult time."