DENVER – What was supposed to be a day of triumph for a Denver woman turned into tragedy within hours.
Hilary van Noort, fighting leukemia, received a stem cell transplant on Dec. 9, KDVR-TV reported. However, she later learned from her hospital bed that her husband, Logan Rocklin, had been killed in a hit-and-run accident while riding his bicycle, according to the television station.
“They were both at the hospital celebrating all day,” van Noort’s best friend, Laura Jo Washle, told KDVR. “Now, it’s a day that unfortunately is tainted.”
According to the Denver Police Department, the crash occurred at about 8:30 p.m. MST, KUSA-TV reported.
Police said Rocklin, who was crossing an intersection on the crosswalk, was hit by a motorist driving a dark mid-sized SUV that failed to stop at a red light, according to the television station.
The driver left the scene after initially stopping, police said.
On Wednesday, Rocklin’s family unveiled a ghost bike memorial at the site of the crash.
“It’s devastating,” Washle told KDVR. “She’s my best friend and she’s already been going through so much, and then on top of that, her number one support being taken away from her.
“It’s just unbelievable, and so unfair.”
A GoFundMe page was created to assist van Noort with medical and funeral costs. On Wednesday, Denver police released photos of the potential vehicles involved, KDVR reported.
