SHORE ACRES — A tireless advocate against gun violence died over the weekend after he was struck on his motorcycle by an unlicensed driver, police said.
Michael Hines, 53, of Mariners Harbor, was riding his motorcycle southbound on Bay Street on Saturday when he was struck by a pick-up truck driven by Jesus Santiago shortly after noon, the NYPD said.
According to investigators, Santiago, 65, was attempting to make a left turn from the northbound lane of Bay Street onto Fingerboard Road when he crashed into Hines.
Police found Hines unconscious with severe body trauma and he was taken to Staten Island University Hospital North where he was pronounced dead.
Santiago, of Sunset Park, remained on the scene after the crash and was arrested for not having a valid license, police said.
"He was a guy that was full of life, a comedian," said Bobby Digi, founder of Island Voice and co-founder of Occupy the Block who worked with Hines to curb gun violence in North Shore neighborhoods.
"It's a tragic, tragic loss. There ain't a lot of brothers who decided that they want to commit their life to a core like anti-gun violence."
Hines grew up in West Brighton and worked with the local group True 2 Life. With the organization, Hines mentored kids to keep them out of trouble, and would step in to try and mediate potential conflicts between people before they turned violent.
"He really found pride in that work and pride in that there are kids out there that they saved from going the wrong way or situations that could've escalated," said Digi.
Hines was a father of two daughters and recently became a grandfather, something that filled him with pride, Digi said.
"Growing up in the neighborhoods we grew up if you made it to 25 it is a big deal," Digi added. "To hit 53 and die and go in that way, for me it reinforces my commitment to the community."
Santiago's license was previously suspended after he failed to pay child support and he was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and driving without a license at his arraignment, according to the Staten Island District Attorney's office.
Santiago's bail was set at $10,000 bond, $5,000 cash.
