‘He was a gentle giant’: Brother remembers man killed e-scooter crash
By Rachel Whelan
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COVINGTON, Kentucky (WLWT) — The brother of a 44-year-old Covington man who died after a collision involving an electric scooter and a city Public Works vehicle is remembering his kindness and asking for help covering funeral expenses.
William “Billy” McCullough died at UC Medical Center following Monday’s crash at West 19th and Augustine streets.
His brother, Timothy McCullough, said Billy was a familiar face around Covington, where he had lived for at least 15 years.
“He was kind-hearted. He was a gentle giant. He didn’t harm nobody,” Tim said. “He didn’t go out of his way to cause anybody grief, and he’d help anybody.”
Tim said his brother lived with Tourette syndrome and was sometimes misunderstood by people who did not know him. Those who spent time with Billy, he said, knew someone who enjoyed talking to neighbors and making people laugh.
“He was part of the community for sure. Police officers, paramedics, neighbors, citizens, they all knew him,” Tim said.
According to Tim, Billy had just gotten the electric scooter and was excited about having another way to get around.
“He was so excited to have this scooter to where he could get around without having to pay for a bus,” he said.
Covington police said officers were called to the intersection at 12:49 p.m. Monday.
Preliminary information indicates the Public Works vehicle was turning right with a green traffic signal when the scooter and rider struck the vehicle, police said. The circumstances of the collision remain under investigation.
Billy was taken to UC Medical Center with life-threatening injuries and later died. Police said the driver remained at the scene and has been cooperative with investigators.
Tim said he learned about the crash through a phone call and was unable to reach the hospital before his brother died.
“There’s just no words that I could say to describe the amount of emptiness I feel,” he said.
The brothers lost their mother in 2019. Now, Tim is trying to navigate funeral arrangements while grieving another loss.
He has started a GoFundMe to help cover his brother’s funeral expenses. Asked what justice would look like for Billy, Tim said, “A dignified burial.”
Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact Covington detectives at 859-292-2234 or Cincinnati/NKY Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.
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