It happened around midnight on US Highway 41 near County Highway A in Little River. That’s where 20‑year‑old Riley King was struck and killed late Monday night. Deputies from the Oconto County Sheriff’s Office got the call just before 11:50 p.m. and found him lying in the northbound lanes after a vehicle hit him and kept going. The crash is being treated as a hit‑and‑run and investigators are asking anyone with tips to come forward.
Friends and family are struggling to make sense of what happened. Riley was from a close‑knit family and was known for being kind and generous. He had plans and people who loved him expected to see him turn 21 in a few short weeks. Instead, his family got news of his death in a text message that left them reeling, unsure at first whether it was real.
People who saw him before the accident said Riley was walking along the highway late that night, and they tried to help. A driver and her sister passed by him about a minute before the crash and say he was very close to traffic. They pulled over, called 911 and tried to return, but what they found was their worst fear.
“There was nothing about him that wouldn’t make you stop and help,” one witness said. They believe someone in the line of cars may have struck Riley, but no one stopped. The family, deeply shaken, is urging anyone who saw something to speak up. They want to know why no one stayed to help him when he was obviously in trouble.
Riley’s grandmother said he was trusting by nature, always quick to help others even if he didn’t know them well. He was autistic and unfamiliar with the area, and was reportedly headed toward Green Bay before he ended up miles past his destination. His family said that trait of trust made him vulnerable.
The sheriff’s office is combing through camera footage from the area and checking for vehicles with damage that match the crash. They’re encouraging residents to look at their cars for fresh dents or broken lights. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Oconto County Emergency Dispatch.
His community is mourning. People talk about what a good kid Riley was and how quickly everything changed. They remember his smile, his willingness to lend a hand and the quiet way he cared about others. For his family and those who knew him, figuring out exactly what happened has become part of finding some peace.
