Plymouth Man Killed in Hit-and-Run Crash Remembered As ‘Kind, Adventurous Spirit’
A Plymouth man killed by a hit-and-run driver is being remembered as a “kind and adventurous spirit.” Greg Schneider’s childhood friends say he was “one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet.”
The 65-year-old Schneider was out walking his dog last Wednesday near the intersection of County Road 24 and 32nd Avenue North in Plymouth. That what’s when a driver struck and killed him before leaving the scene. Schneider’s black Lab, Zilly, also died in the crash.
Plymouth police are still investigating the fatal incident. Friend Don Collyard described the horrible accident scene.
“On impact, the dog went a 100 feet, I believe. I’m not sure how far Greg went, but maybe 20 feet. It was surreal,” said Collyard.
Collyard and Michael Ricci grew up with Schneider and remained friends throughout adulthood.
“I got that phone call, and I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t breathe, and I had to call my friends,” explained Ricci.
Both men say Schneider was laid back and humble.
“He’s a very unassuming person. You would never know he was a civil engineer, that he was a pilot,” said Collyard.
The Plymouth resident recently retired and was about to get married. Friends say Schneider’s bride-to-be is grateful he didn’t die alone.
“We learned a good Samaritan came out of her house and gave Greg CPR, attempted CPR,” said Ricci.
Greg Schneider was killed by hit-and-run driver April 28.
Friends Call for Added Safety Measures by Plymouth Intersection
Schneider’s friends spoke with residents who live near the crash site who said speeding is a problem. Investigators believe the driver was traveling more than 70 mph in a 45-mph zone when Schneider was struck. His friends don’t want his death to be in vain and are calling for new safety measures to slow traffic in the area.
Nineteen-year-old Jack Blaschke from Delano is charged with two counts of criminal vehicular homicide in Schneider’s death. Blaschke is due back in court June 2.
