The parents of the 20-year-old cyclist killed in a hit and run in Whitchurch-Stouffville made an emotional plea for the driver to come forward.

Daunte Thompson-Bruce died early Tuesday morning.

“To the motorist: ‘How could you leave him to die?,’ ” his mother Felicia Thompson said at a news conference Wednesday.

“This is the greatest fear any parent could know. Your baby you nurtured through life, your baby who had dreams and aspirations, is now hurt and alone; not knowing if he would ever see his mom and dad, his two younger brothers and sister again.”

York Region police said they responded at around 6 a.m. to the scene near Ninth Line and Bethesda Sideroad. Investigators believe Thompson-Bruce, who was travelling south on Ninth Line, was hit between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

They said the vehicle did not remain at the scene and that the cyclist succumbed to his injuries on site.

Thompson-Bruce’s parents urged the person responsible to surrender to police, saying “it will only get harder as the days go by.”

His mother said they were celebrating their other son’s birthday when they found out about his death.

Thompson-Bruce’s parents said he had a passion for track and field. He was a student at Seneca College in his second semester of the business and human resources program.

A Facebook group was set up by his aunt Natalie Thompson for people to share memories and pictures of Thompson-Bruce.

“When Daunte Thompson was young I remembered he always shared whatever he had,” she wrote. “He had such an amazing heart and was a great nephew.”

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Stouffville Councillor Iain Lovatt tweeted that he was “heartbroken” to learn Thompson-Bruce was a former student at Stouffville District Secondary School and his daughter’s classmate.

One of Thompson-Bruce’s friends, Ray Alibux, created a GoFundMe page to help with the funeral costs. He posted on the page that “Daunte was a brilliant friend, who’s smile never ceased to bring joy to others . . . With such a bright light extinguished, I pass my condolences on to his family and pray for them through these terrible times.”

York police are urging anyone who may have seen the collision or has any information to contact the Major Collision Investigation Unit by calling 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7704 or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS.