A cyclist who died when a car swerved between two lanes and hit him is being remembered by his loved ones as the “rock” of the family.
Graham Steinmann, 42, was cycling home from work when he stopped on a median strip near the Sunshine Avenue overpass of the Western Ring Road in Sunshine North, Melbourne’s west, on Monday.
Her sister Jessica Steinmann said 7news.com.au that his brother was captured on dashcam footage as he waited to safely cross the street.
But she claimed the driver, a 72-year-old woman from Kealba, crossed two lanes and hit her brother before crossing two more lanes and crashing into a pole.
Mr Steinmann could not be revived at the scene while the driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
His sister said it appeared the driver may have suffered a medical episode at the time, which has not yet been confirmed by police.
“It seemed like they had no control over the car,” Steinmann said.
“It really seemed like I was in the wrong place at the wrong time, it was completely unavoidable.”
Graham Steinmann, 42 (pictured), was on his bike waiting in a median strip to safely cross the road when he was hit by a car.
The 42-year-old (pictured), who was described as an amazing uncle and a “beautiful, kind soul” had been supporting his mother and two brothers who are unable to work.
The 42-year-old, who had travelled home on the same road hundreds of times, worked at a local scrapyard.
Mr. Steinmann lived with his mother and two brothers, whom he helped support.
His grieving family does not blame the driver for his tragic death.
Ms Steinmann said it was “a total accident” and a terrifying experience the driver will live with for the rest of her life.
“The entire family is absolutely devastated by this unexpected loss,” Ms. Steinmann wrote in a GoFundMe Fundraising settings.
‘Graham worked hard to try to support our mother and two younger brothers at home, going from paycheck to paycheck and struggling to get by.
“Mom still works, but our siblings at home can’t. Graham had no insurance policies or retirement funds.”
Ms Steinmann said her “loving big brother” was the backbone of the family and always put his family above everything else.
“He had an incredible sense of humor. He was always happy and tried to make jokes,” she said.
Ms Steinmann also described the 42-year-old as an amazing guy who had a “beautiful and kind soul”.
Mr Steinmann died at the scene (pictured). The 72-year-old driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Mr. Steinmann arrives just two years after his father died of cancer.
At that time, the family spent all of their savings on his funeral, leaving them with nothing to pay for the funeral expenses of his brother and son.
Ms. Steinmann said she wanted to help her mother by raising money for a funeral or memorial service for her brother.
In the last few days, almost $3,200 has been raised.
Police investigations into the fatal accident continue.
