As the World Cup approaches, a man willing to walk to it was killed when a truck crashed into him. He was using the trip as a chance to capture an audience who would donate money to an organization that donates soccer balls to less fortunate students.
A man from Seattle who was attempting to kick a ball 10,000 miles from the west coast of the United States to Brazil all in time to reach the 2014 World Cup Died after he was hit by a pickup truck on the Oregon Coast Tuesday. Reports said the driver of the truck was not charged.
According to authorities, 42-year-old Richard Swanson was struck by a truck sometime around 10 a.m. while kicking a ball south along U.S. Highway 101 near the city limits of Lincoln City, Oregon. It had been only a couple of days since Swanson embarked on his journey.
Medical respondents rushed him to the hospital where he was declared dead.
Lt. Jerry Palmer told reporters that investigators found various materials among Swanson's belongings. They also discovered the listing to his website, breakawaybrazil.com.
On his website, Swanson states that he was on trek to promote the One World Futbol Project, a project that donates durable soccer balls to people in developing countries.
"We are deeply saddened to learn about Richard's death," Lisa Tarver, chief operating officer of One World Futbol Project, said in a statement. "He was a very inspiring man who in a very short time walked his way into many lives. Our thoughts are with his family."
Police stated that they recovered Swanson’s soccer ball.
Kristi Schwesinger, a close friend of the deceased man and told reporters that Swanson had been a private investigator for many years and switched to a new career as a graphic designer but was laid off recently. He was searching for something like an adventure to embark on while between jobs.
"He was at a point in his life where he had raised his kids," she said. "Both his boys had graduated from high school. He had no mortgage. He had sold his condo recently and was between jobs.
"And he loved the game of soccer," she said. "He stumbled on this great organization, One World Futbol, and decided this would be his passion the next year."
Swanson had picked up soccer only five years ago and discovered a new passion. He also played on club teams and began to root for the Seattle Sounders.
"I felt destined that I should go on this trip," he told reporters.
He engaged on the trip from Seattle on the first of May. According to his site it would take him approximately over a year to traverse through 11 countries on foot prior to reaching Sao Paolo, Brazil, where the World Cup soccer tournament is scheduled to take place.
His website is still up and there is no news of his death on it.
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