Ronacin Tjhung was working more than 60 hours a week at two jobs to send money back to support his five children in the Philippines. Those children, between 9 and 16, lost their mother in the terrible typhoon Haiyan (also known as “Yolanda”) in 2013. Now, they have lost their father an ocean away in Seattle.
Ronacin was biking from his first job at McDonald’s to his second job at UW when he collided with someone driving a Toyota Rav4 SUV on S Graham Street just west of MLK. The collision remains under investigation. For more, see our previous story.
Family reports on his GoFundMe page that Ronacin died Saturday evening after more than a week in Intensive Care:
Today has been by far the most hardest day for us. Ronacin passed away this evening at 7:50 pm along side him was our whole family and some close friends. No more suffering. We will really miss your smiling face. Your time with us here in Seattle wasn’t very long. I know you are in a much better place. Rest in peace kuya. We love you so much. We will make sure all your children are taken care of. We will try our best to be able to bring you home to the Philippines so your children can see you one last time.
Our deepest condolences go to his friends and family.
KOMO’s Lindsay Cohen spoke with Ronacin’s family in Seattle. My heart breaks for them. Ronacin deserved better. People should not die simply for trying to get around our city and provide for their families. Watch the report on the KOMO website. (more…)