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A 2016 Charlottesville High School graduate died Monday in New York City after colliding with a truck.

Robyn Hightman, 20, was riding a bike at the time of the crash. Hightman, who preferred they/their pronouns, had recently moved from Richmond to New York to work as a bike messenger. They also served as an ambassador for a women’s professional cycling team, Supermint. The team shared the news about Hightman on Monday in posts on social media. The post included portions of her ambassador application.

“As a homeless youth deeply entrenched in the trappings of poverty and parental abuse and neglect, my first bicycle offered a way to seek respite from the horrors of my surroundings and human experience, if only for a few glorious minutes,” Hightman wrote. “My bicycle established a sense of independence, strengthened my ability to be self sufficient, and provided me with the confidence necessary to advocate for myself, my rights, and my needs in public space.”