The night was quiet in Hammond until it wasn’t. Around 11:15 p.m. on April 1, 2026, 46-year-old Michael Ribando Jr. was riding his bicycle through the intersection of North Baptist Road and Sunset Acres when everything changed in an instant. What should have been an ordinary ride turned into a devastating loss that now weighs heavily on the entire community.
Authorities say Ribando was first struck by a vehicle whose driver did what many would hope for in such a moment. That driver stopped and reported the crash. But the situation quickly turned even more tragic. As Ribando lay injured, a second vehicle traveling in the opposite direction hit him again.
That second driver briefly stopped. Then, without warning, they fled the scene, leaving behind chaos, unanswered questions, and a man fighting for his life. Investigators later described the vehicle as a light-colored sedan that had been heading northbound on North Baptist Road before turning onto Wardline Road.
Emergency responders rushed Ribando to a nearby hospital. Despite their efforts, he did not survive. The loss was immediate and deeply felt, not just by his family, but by neighbors and friends who knew him as a kind and steady presence.
Those close to Ribando describe a man who showed up for people. He was known for his warm spirit and the way he treated others with simple, genuine respect. His absence now leaves a space that cannot be filled, a silence that speaks louder than words.
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office has continued its investigation, focusing on identifying the driver who left the scene. Officials are urging anyone who may have seen something, no matter how small, to come forward. For investigators, even the smallest detail could be the one that brings answers.
Sheriff Gerald Sticker used the moment to remind the public of something that often gets overlooked until it is too late. Drivers are expected to give bicyclists and pedestrians at least three feet of space. Bicyclists should stay to the right and follow traffic rules. Pedestrians should walk facing traffic. And above all, anyone involved in a crash must stop.
For Hammond, this is more than just a case under investigation. It is a reminder of how quickly life can change, and how one moment on the road can ripple through an entire community. As loved ones mourn Michael Ribando Jr., they hold on to the memory of who he was, not just how he died.
