Oakland community rallies around cyclist hit, robbed

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- This is a crime that left many viewers shocked and disgusted. So much so an entire community came together to help the family of a man who was hit by a truck then robbed by witnesses.

On Tuesday, at the intersection of 8th and Union streets, 25-year-old Greg Lowrie was struck while riding his bike in West Oakland.

Police are still looking for the suspects who robbed Greg while he was lying in the street, unconscious after being hit by a truck. Another group also robbed the driver of that truck.

Greg's mother said she's not getting any response from her son. She told ABC7 News, "No, there's no response. He coughs every once in a while."

Margaret says her son is still in critical condition at Highland Hospital with brain trauma, broken bones and lacerated organs.

"I think it's my fault. I mean, if I hadn't lost my job and our home, we would have had a vehicle. He wouldn't have been on the street down here," Margaret said.

Greg and his mother have been living in an RV. The 25-year-old has been battling heart problems and he was riding to the health clinic for treatment when he was struck.

It's a sad story that has compelled a lot of people to do something about it.

"A lot of people were bad mouthing Oakland, and I was like, 'That's not Oakland. Oakland is a great place. There's great people in Oakland,'" Oakland resident Hal Hustis said.

Hustis had no problem mobilizing his neighborhood watch group. He said, "I put it on our Facebook page, and right away 50 people said, 'I'll give them food, I'll give them money. You organize it, we'll make it happen.'"

Others have set up and contributed to a GoFundMe account.

Meanwhile, Greg's mother says she's seen the very best of humanity and the very worst in just a few short days.