Charles Criniere: Father of 10 and teacher tragically killed in hit-and-run while biking in Kansas City
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: Charles Criniere, father of 10 and teacher at Martin City K8, died in a freak hit-and-run collision while he was out biking over the weekend. Criniere was a middle school math teacher and faith leader in his community. He was known for being a kind person.
On Saturday, August 27, around 6.15am, Criniere was out biking when he was hit by a vehicle. The driver fled immediately after the accident. He succumbed to his injuries a short while later. The incident occured on View High Drive, just north of Longview Road, near MCC Longview. Police have narrowed down their search to a white 2017 to 2020 Acura MDX. The vehicle's right front passsenger door and grill were damaged in the accident.
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Additional information regarding this incident is yet to be released to the public, according to KMCB-TV. Police are using the assistance of the general public and potential witnesses to continue their search for the vehicle in question and its driver.
Ken DeBenedictis, a friend of Criniere, told KSHB, "He's an early-morning riser, so he gets up there, (at the) crack of dawn and spends some time alone, prays and bikes around the lake and gets his thoughts together before the day. It's part of his routine." Lots of friends and acquaintances came forward to express their love and appreciation for the amazing person that he was. "They're so giving, and they were living off a teacher's salary," Erika DeBenedictis told WDAF. "Ten kids and they always gave, and I would look at him and be like, 'How are they giving so much?' But that's their heart, is to give to people."
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help Criniere's wife and his children. As of Wednesday, August 31, $155,363 has been raised as more donations continue to pour in.
Pastor Athel Barnes from Grace Point Baptist Church said,"Charles was an amazing person in so many ways and it's left a huge hole in the community. He never did anything without love and just had incredible character.""Charles had an amazing capacity to be able to wrap his arms around so many people at the same time — whether it was his nine children living at home or his church family or his extended family at the school," he added.