A 13-year-old Eagan seventh-grader was killed when his bike was struck by a car early Friday on Diffley Road near Dakota Hills Middle School, according to police and the school district.
In an e-mail to parents, Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Superintendent Mary Kreger identified the student as Patric Vitek. "It pains us deeply to inform you of the loss of one of our students," she wrote to middle school parents as well as those from nearby Northview Elementary.
Eagan police said they responded to a call at 7:20 a.m. about a crash involving a child on a bike in the 1000 block of Diffley Road.
Officers arrived to find Patric lying in the road with multiple injuries. He was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he was declared dead.
The vehicle was headed east on Diffley when it "struck the rear tire of Patric's bicycle," police said.
Hundreds of people gathered at Dakota Hills Middle School Friday night to mourn for Patric. Among those participating were members of his Pee Wee A Eagan Hockey Association team.
A GoFundMe page set up to help Patric's family was rapidly approaching its $30,000 goal Saturday.
He is survived by his parents, Cheryl and Brian, and younger brother, Jack.
Rochelle Olson
