SARASOTA – A motorcyclist dies in a crash on the Suncoast, leaving behind two young children.
The family of Derrick Bonet is mourning the loss of a father and a friend. “He was a good dad, I mean he did a lot for his kids,” said Chinalyn McCullough.
According to family members Bonet died while riding his motorcycle along State Road 64. McCullough is the mother of Bonet’s six year old daughter Sofia and 4 year old son Derrick Jr.
“We have two children together, him and I could never really make it work but we were good friends and he was a good father to his kids,” said McCullough
Bonet’s greatest accomplishment the day he became a father. “I’ll never forget the look on his face when both our children were born,” McCullough said. “I think about that all the time that was probably his most proudest moment are his kids, he loved them so very much.”
McCullough says Bonet had a passion for music, nature and especially jujitsu.
“He loved to do jujitsu that was his calm, that was like, he would tell me every Sunday when I would go to church that, that was his church,” she said.
Sonny Parlin the owner Gracie Bradenton remembers Bonet for being an outstanding student in the dojo. “If you needed a good partner he was the guy you know, he fought real hard for a small guy,” said Parlin.
McCullough says her children are coping thanks to their faith. She herself is trying to stay strong for her children. “It’s hard…the first couple of day, the first day was really bad. We’re just trying to process everything one day at a time so,” McCullogh said
The family is planning a funeral service soon… Parlin with Gracie Bradenton also plans on helping out the family.
