A well-loved cyclist was tragically stabbed to death while trying to protect his mother and her children from harassment at a California station. The incident unfolded on July 26th at a Muni stop in San Francisco as Colden Kimber, 28, waited with his girlfriend.
The attacker, identified as Sean Collins, 29, verbally harassed Kimber’s mother and her two children, taunting them with threats and claiming they were scared of him.
Kimber, who was coming home from lunch, intervened between Collins and the family just as a train approached. In a shocking turn of events, Collins reportedly stabbed Kimber in the neck with a 6-inch knife, as described in court documents.
The brutal attack left onlookers, including students from San Francisco State University, in disbelief as they witnessed the violence unfold. Blood was seen pouring from Kimber’s neck after he collapsed.
He was rushed to San Francisco General Hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries despite surgery, according to a GoFundMe campaign set up by his grieving mother.
In her heartfelt message on the fundraising page, Lara Litchfield Kimber expressed the family’s devastation, admitting they struggled to comprehend the loss. She described her son as someone who had always been protective and mentioned that he was affectionately called “Country Moose” back in Dryden.
Collins was arrested at the scene, and authorities later found the knife used in the attack, which was captured on surveillance cameras.
Kimber was known for his work at Cycles in America, where he spent the past three years repairing and building bicycles. The owner, Bradley Wall, praised him for his positive demeanor, saying Kimber had made a significant impact on everyone around him.
In a past battle, Kimber had turned to cycling after his mother faced breast cancer, which seemed to ignite his passion for the sport, as she noted that he had never ridden a bike on the road before. His mother reflected on how cycling became integral to his life, relaying anecdotes of people remembering him fondly for his spirit.
A memorial bike ride is set to take place on September 7th in honor of Kimber, while Collins is due back in court on August 14th.
