The St. Clair County community is mourning the sudden and tragic loss of Thomas Edward Israel, 34, who passed away early Monday morning after being struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle. The shocking accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. on August 18 on M-29 near Martindale Court in Cottrellville Township. Authorities are urging the driver responsible to come forward.
According to the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded after Central Dispatch received a call reporting a man and a bicycle lying in the roadway. Emergency personnel from the Marine City Area Fire Authority and TriHospital EMS arrived quickly, but Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene.
Family members are struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss. His brother, Arthur “AJ” Israel Jr., expressed both heartbreak and frustration over the circumstances of his death:
“I hope they’re losing sleep at night. I would have stopped. I would have called, at least held his hand or something, so he wasn’t alone. Just turn yourself in. The law is going to get you.”
AJ recalled that he and Thomas had spent time together the night before, sharing a heartfelt conversation. Thomas had left their home to ride his bike to pick up cigarettes. When he did not return, AJ initially thought nothing was wrong, assuming his brother had gone to sleep. The devastating news arrived the next morning when a detective informed him of Thomas’s death:
“I just lost it. I didn’t know what to think until we went and ID’d his body. And then I just started doing whatever I could to help find this guy,” AJ said.
Thomas was a devoted son, brother, and friend, known for his love of music, technology, and his passion for building computers. He was also dedicated to his work at Riviera Restaurant in Marine City, where colleagues remember him as reliable, hardworking, and kindhearted.
Those who knew Thomas remember his warm spirit and his ability to light up any room with his presence. He had a genuine love for life, whether he was sharing laughs with family, working on computers, or enjoying the music he cherished.
The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the hit-and-run crash and urges anyone with information to come forward. The Israel family hopes that the responsible party will do the right thing and turn themselves in.
Thomas’s passing is a devastating loss to all who knew him. Family, friends, and community members alike are left to grieve the loss of a young man whose life was cut tragically short.
Thomas Edward Israel will be remembered for his kindness, his passions, and the love he shared with all who knew him. His family asks for privacy as they mourn, but also encourages anyone with information about the incident to assist authorities in bringing justice.
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