More than $100,000 has been raised for the family of a middle school teacher who died after being hit by a vehicle while riding his bike.

Charles Criniere was struck by an unknown vehicle while traveling along View High Drive in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday, the city's police department said.

He leaves behind his wife and 10 children, according to a GoFundMe page set up to support his family.

Criniere "was a devoted husband and father who deeply loved his family," organizer Lynn Dubwig wrote on the page. "All who knew him loved him. He was a public school teacher and the sole provider for his family."

He also "passionately followed Jesus," Dubwig wrote. "Please show your love and support for the Criniere family by donating to help them through this difficult time."

By early Tuesday, the fundraiser had raised more than $140,000.

Criniere's friend and neighbor Ken DeBenedictis described Criniere, a teacher at Martin City Middle School, as "an amazing man" and "pillar of the community."

Criniere "was just a bright example of love and dedication to teaching children, and to just being there for especially the juveniles and the fatherless," DeBenedictis told Newsweek.

"He was just a man that just burst with energy. He had 10 kids, but still found all the time in the world to just give his life to helping kids, and just making his home open, our whole neighborhood's been just rocked because they not only lost a neighbor and a friend, but they lost the neighborhood pastor. He dedicated his life to the ministry, but he found really a home in the public school system as a teacher…. just an amazing man."

DeBenedictis urged people to donate to the fundraiser to help the family. "We want them taken care of, their bills and their house payments," he said. "We want that to just be not a problem for them."

Tributes to Criniere were also posted on the GoFundMe page.

"Our Martin City K-8 team will miss you terribly along with thousands of other lives you have touched," Melinda Kasha wrote. "Our hearts are heavy. Thank you for being one of the nicest people I've ever met. I know your family will be strong for each other as we are for them."

Paul Mangal added: "Cousin Charles was a star that shined brightly and touched the lives of many people each day. He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten."

Rebekah Santa added: "There are no words that begin to express the heartbreak. Charlie was an amazing man that led a life that was a testament to his devotion to children, family and faith."

On Aug. 27th at Longview and View High Dr. A cyclist was killed when he was struck by an unknown vehicle that left the scene. Detectives have now narrowed the search to a white 2017 to 2020 Acura MDX with damage to the right front passenger side and grill area of the vehicle. pic.twitter.com/M9xaDzJv7Z

Police said the vehicle that struck Criniere did not stop at the scene.

In a Twitter post on Monday, police said the vehicle in question is a white 2017 to 2020 Acura MDX with damage to the right front passenger side and grill area of the vehicle.

The vehicle was last seen going south on View High Drive towards Lee's Summit, Missouri, police added.

DeBenedictis said the community is praying the driver will come forward to police.

"We want that [person] to know that it's okay to come in," he said. "The family feels the same way. They're not holding any bitterness or they're not angry… they know that the man is, or whoever it is, is just as afraid as anybody else to come forward."

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call the Kansas City Crime Stoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS or Detective Chad Rives with the Traffic Investigation Section at 816-482-8296 or email chad.rives@kcpd.org.

Update 8/30/22, 10:30 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with comments from Ken DeBenedictis.

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