It was just before dawn when the ride that James Griffin looked forward to most turned fatal. At about 5:33 a.m., Melbourne police were called to the intersection of Eau Gallie Boulevard and Highland Avenue after reports of a collision between a vehicle and a bicyclist. When officers arrived, they found 70‑year‑old Griffin lying badly injured. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but despite medical efforts he later died from his wounds.
According to investigators, Griffin had been cycling westbound in the marked bicycle lane along Eau Gallie Boulevard when a light‑colored car turned onto that stretch from Pineapple Avenue and struck him. Witnesses say the vehicle had been driving erratically just before impact — swerving, squealing its tires, and showing signs of loss of control. After the collision, the driver didn’t stop. Instead, the car fled westbound, leaving Griffin’s life hanging in the balance.
Police are now canvassing nearby homes and businesses for surveillance video, hoping to catch sight of the vehicle entering or leaving the vicinity of the crash. Investigators from the Traffic Enforcement Unit are also interviewing witnesses who may have seen the car before or after the collision.
Authorities are urging anyone with information — particularly someone who noticed a light‑colored vehicle driving erratically in the early morning — to come forward. Tips can be directed to Officer Whiteside with the Traffic Enforcement Unit at (321) 616‑6087. For those preferring anonymity, Crimeline is also accepting tips at 1‑800‑423‑TIPS (8477).
Friends and neighbors remember James Griffin as more than an early‑morning cyclist. He was seen as a kind, active member of the community — someone who found peace and clarity on quiet roads in the early hours. Many say he rode not just for exercise, but for the connection between movement, thinking, and the stillness before the day fully woke.
His sudden passing has left a community in shock and mourning. For those who knew him, the man on the bike was more than a rider — he was a neighbor, a friend, someone who treated the roads with respect and appreciated the small moments of life. Now, in the wake of a senseless act, people are left grappling with absence, regret, and the hope that justice will come.
As the investigation continues, Melbourne police reaffirm this: no one deserves to have their life ended like this — hit and left alone. If you saw anything unusual, no matter how small, that early Wednesday morning, your information could be the key. May James Griffin rest in peace, and may all who loved him find strength amid sorrow.
