A man from Seattle who was attempting to kick a ball 10,000miles from the west coast of the United States to Brazil all in time to reachthe 2014 World Cup Died after he was hit by a pickup truck on the Oregon CoastTuesday. Reports said the driver of the truck was not charged.
According to authorities, 42-year-old Richard Swanson wasstruck 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 acouple of days since Swanson embarked on his journey.
Medical respondents rushed him to the hospital where he wasdeclared dead.
Lt. Jerry Palmer told reporters that investigators found variousmaterials among Swanson’s belongings. They also discovered the listing to hiswebsite, breakawaybrazil.
On his website, Swanson states that he was on trek topromote the One World Futbol Project, a project that donates durable soccerballs 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 astatement. “He was a very inspiring man who in a very short time walkedhis way into many lives. Our thoughts are with his family.”
Police stated that they recovered Swansons soccer ball.
Kristi Schwesinger, a close friend of the deceased man andtold reporters that Swanson had been a private investigator for many years andswitched to a new career as a graphic designer but was laid off recently. Hewas searching for something like an adventure to embark on while between jobs.
“He was at a point in his life where he had raised hiskids,” she said. “Both his boys had graduated from high school. Hehad 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 decidedthis would be his passion the next year.”
Swanson had picked up soccer only five years ago anddiscovered a new passion. He also played on club teams and began to root forthe 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 traversethrough 11 countries on foot prior to reaching Sao Paolo, Brazil, where theWorld Cup soccer tournament is scheduled to take place.
His website is still up and there is no news of his death onit.
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