JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. David Aldridge, father of 18-year-old David Aldridge II, spoke to the media yesterday with his wife Susanne, right; daughter Destiny, 3; and brother James Aldridge (not pictured) at Schofield Barracks. Aldridge II was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver last Tuesday while riding his bicycle near Dole Plantation.
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Driver urged to give up
Hit-Run Mystery: Bicyclist's family asks for public's help
The father of David Wayne Aldridge II, who died in a hit-and-run accident, wants the public's help in finding the person who ran down his son last week.
Information sought
Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contact the Vehicular Homicide Section at 529-3499.
Donations to help pay for funeral expenses can be made at any First Hawaiian Bank to Friends of David Wayne Aldridge II.
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Better yet, he wants the driver to do the right thing.
"Go gracefully. Bow your head and turn yourself in," Army Staff Sgt. David Aldridge said yesterday at a news conference.
About 1:35 a.m. last Tuesday, the driver of what is believed to be a red flatbed truck struck his son and fled. Another motorist found the 18-year-old next to the highway. He was transported to Wahiawa General Hospital in critical condition and later taken to the Queen's Medical Center, where he died of multiple blunt force injuries.
The recent Leilehua High School graduate was riding his bike from his Burger King job at Schofield Barracks to his home at Helemano Military Reservation. It was a ride he enjoyed.
"He loved riding his bicycle back and forth to work," his father said. "He used to be proud of the times he would make back and forth to Schofield. He would be like, 'Dad I made it under a half an hour.'"
Aldridge said his son often wore reflectors and was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
Aldridge was stationed in Hawaii in November and the family moved from Fort Campbell, Ky.
David had dreams of becoming a rapper or the next Vince McMahon, chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment. The teenager wanted to go to college in Hamburg, Germany, when the family relocated there in the future.
On Thursday night, the elder Aldridge said he just "lost it" when he awoke and mistakenly expected to see his son come home but couldn't find the teen's shoes or bike.
Police collected headlight pieces from the accident scene and say the driver's vehicle should have extensive front-end damage. The family hopes to establish a reward fund for any information leading to the arrest of the driver.
"Losing a child is the worst nightmare in the world," said his stepmother, Susanne Aldridge.
He is also survived by his mother, Crystal Aldridge, and sisters Candace and Destiny.
After a memorial service today at the main chapel in Schofield Barracks, Aldridge's remains will be transported to Jeffersonville, Ind., for a funeral and burial. "That's where my father was born, and I have a lot of family members in that cemetery. ... I didn't want to put him somewhere where he'd be alone," his father said.
