Streetsblog SF has a touching article about Derek Allen, who lost his life last Thursday night after colliding with a MUNI bus at 6th Avenue and Clement Street. He was on his way to get dim sum.
After his aunt, Stephanie Allen, saw photos of the ghost bike that was left at the intersection in Derek’s memory, she sent a note to Streetsblog to let readers know more about her nephew:
Photos of Derek Allen, courtesy of his family and Streetsblog SF
This ghost is my nephew, Derek Allen. For many of you who pass this corner, he is an everyman, a victim of a tragic accident, a young person who left this world way too soon.
For my family, this is a tragedy beyond belief. It’s a surreal nightmare that we wish we could have ended on Friday morning when we woke up to our first day of living with the fact that Derek was gone.
What can I tell you about Derek?
I can only speak from what I know as his aunt. Derek grew up in Pleasanton, the only child of my brother and his wife. He had birthday parties with large packs of kids and bad Safeway cakes over embellished with colorful icing. He had to wear a Christmas sweater and have his photo taken for the holidays. He loved to skateboard, play video games, spend time with his dog Lucky and do artwork. In these last few years, he carried a sketchbook. At Christmas, since he was broke, he made us hand drawn cards with the deep thoughts that only a 22-year-old can have.
Mine read: “Hoping for all they desire, the children laugh and play in the Christmas mire.”
Christmas will never be the same for our family without you Derek.
Derek and I shared some special time on outdoor adventures when he was younger. I asked him to hike a moderate hill carrying a water bottle and small pack while I carried the tent and most other supplies. He moaned and groaned about how painful this was, but he loved it when we reached our destination with stars overhead and a good meal…
Read the rest at Streetsblog.com, including details on a memorial planned in Pleasanton this Saturday and information on making donations in Derek’s memory.
Sarah B.
Thanks for posting. Although it’s incredibly sad, I think it’s important to face the individual human aspect of tragedies like this. Hopefully it will bring it home to people and maybe some positive action will come from it.
Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing a touching insight into such a sad loss. My heart goes out to your family.