PALMDALE— Family and friends gathered at an east Palmdale crash site Saturday afternoon to remember the man hit by a vehicle and left bleeding and unconscious in the street nearly a week ago.
Terence “Terry” Redack clung to life for a few days before passing away on Jan. 22, family members said.
“Terry was so smart, funny and quite the character. He had so many friends, so many that love and miss him,” said his mother Debra Redack. “Terry was an inspiration to many and continues to be. He loved and cared for so many. We love and miss Terry.”
Terence was a very outgoing, funny, goofy kind of guy who loved being fit and healthy, said his sister Samantha.
On the evening of Sunday, Jan. 19, Terence was out exercising less than a mile away from home, Samantha said.
The 29-year-old was crossing mid-block on East Avenue R, just east of 65th Street, when he was struck by a vehicle that fled the scene, according to sheriff’s detectives.
Another driver spotted Terence lying bleeding and unconscious in the roadway, and the passerby alerted authorities around 8:21 p.m., sheriff’s detectives said.
After receiving first aid at the scene, Terence was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Family members held vigil at his bedside in the days that followed, but he was pronounced completely brain dead and then pulled off life support Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Terence once dreamed of becoming a Marine, but he had to be sent home from “boot camp” because he came down with pneumonia, his sister Samantha said. He had started school to become a registered nurse because he really wanted to help people, and he also enjoyed volunteering at the local hospital, Samantha said.
Terence never got the chance to become the nurse he envisioned, but he would have wanted to help others by donating his organs to patients in dire need, his sister said.
“In my book, he did reach and surpass his expectations more than he could ever possibly imagine,” Samantha stated.
As family members and friends struggle to cope with Terence’s death, they’re asking the public to help detectives find the hit and run driver.
“If anybody sees a car with any frontal damage, report it,” Samantha said. “Even a small dent, any type of front damage at all, report it.”
“The only thing that would bring me and my mom comfort right now is finding the person who did this,” Samantha said.
Anyone with information on this collision is urged to call the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station’s Traffic Detail at 661-272-2400. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637).
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Previous related story: Public’s help sought in Palmdale hit-and-run
Phill says
I grew up with Terence, known him for almost half my life. Not a day goes by where I do not think of him and the good times we had. He was a good guy and did not deserve this. I believe that justice will be served; the family especially deserves answers. Terence is missed by all of us, but he will always live on through his family and friends, and for generations to come because the family decided that Terry, who was well on his way to become a nurse, would want to help others with his organ donations. We will never forget you buddy, thank you for being a big part of my life Terry, it was a pleasure. I am still in aww and cannot believe that your not here anymore. For those that didn’t know, he recently became baptized and was an active member at his church where he was known to attend bible study every Sunday and volunteer. He had reached a pinnacle point of his life where he was gaining prospects for his future. Terence had the most charisma I’d ever seen. When he set his mind to something, he did it. Not only did he do it, he would put 110 percent into everything he did. He is a good example of how we should pursue our dreams and aspirations. Imagine how great everything would be if we had more Terrences around with the same can do attitude that he had!
red says
@John, really, . u obviously have no understanding of what you speak, no one who has this experience would ever be so disrespectful to a victim, the day will come when u understand
red says
Dearest Debra, this is so heartbreaking and heartless if u can try to fill yourself with the great things about Terry. Take time to grieve. The murderer will be caught and I say murderer cuz he left him there to die so the driver turned an accident into a murder by leaving. Do good in Terry’s name, my grandma told me baby God pays debts without $$$, which has been true in my experience. Love to your family
Debra says
I am Terence’s mom. We recently had the memorial. Needless to say I had wanted to post here but have been too broken-hearted to think straight. The sorrow & grief are permanent. I feel anger now. The thought that the Scumbag who killed my son is still out there in our community sickens me.
I do believe what ‘Goes around comes around’. KARMA!
Terry is in God’s hands now. We love & miss you Terence. In memory of Terence the Lion-Hearted.
debra says
No one should be left for dead in the street as he was. The one who did this is a monster…and still out there. Justice!
Zia Nisani says
I give my most heartfelt condolences to the family. Terence was in my Biol 101 class last year and he used to stop by my offcie and say hi every time he walked by. Truly a nice guy. He will be missed.
john says
If he died it was because he was meant to die no man is death proof all the family could do is be strong and remember the good times they had with him because life moves on it doesn’t stop and hopefully he is in heaven
debra says
Golly Gee ‘john’ such ‘comforting words. No one should be left to die in the street as he was. They should stop give assistance…call 911. Something! The killer is out there. Yes I know Terry is in heaven.
R.I.Paradise 1st Born says
I give my most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family of this young man. I am so very sorry for your loss. I pray for your family’s strength and patience until the person who killed your son is found, tried and convicted. I know what it is like to lose a loved one…a son. It hurts like hell and wrenches your heart more and more with every passing day. People will tell you that your grief will lessen eventually, and you will wonder if “eventually” will ever come. May God bless you and your family with the answers that you seek.
Irena says
I really hope that the person who did this is either caught or turns themselves in. If they hadn’t ran, there might even have been the possibility that they had not faced charges depending on the details. Now all we can go on is some cowardly act by a person who didn’t have the decency to even see if the person they hit was ok.
You know who you are, do the right thing. Even if it ruins your life, you owe it to the ones left behind by this tragedy.