Family mourns the death of man killed crossing Stadium Blvd.

Thursday, the family of a man who was killed New Years Eve while crossing the street is mourning his death.

Abc 17 News reported Jack Cheatom, 54, was hit by two cars while crossing Stadium Boulevard on Worley Street.

The accident happened around 6:20 Wednesday night, according to the police report. The family said they did not get a call until several hours later.

Teresa Cheatom, one of Jack Cheatom’s sisters, said she was waiting to meet up with Jack when she got the call.

“I was waiting on him and then next thing I know I got a call and they said he had been in an accident,” Teresa Cheatom said. “And it was just, I couldn’t believe it. It was just….it just hurt I mean.”

Thursday, Cheatom’s siblings, nieces and nephews gathered in the home Jack Cheatom lived in on Garth Street.

Teresa Cheatom said her brother was very well known in the community.

“I mean he was just loved by everybody,” Teresa Cheatom said. “If you’d ask him to do anything he would do it, even the kids, the grandkids, his nieces and nephews. I mean he was just a sucker for kids, he would do anything for them.”

Jack Cheatom’s home was only about two miles away from the scene of the fatal accident. His family said he loved walking and riding his bicycle around Columbia to see friends and family. Wednesday, his family said he was walking to see one of his sisters at McDonalds, where she worked.

They said they still have several questions remaining about Cheatom’s death.

“It’s lit up over there,” Jack’s nephew Darien Cheatom said. “And that’s so shocking that it happened like this, it’s so lit up, so many cars go through there. How can you not see a man walking?”

Cheatom’s family said his laughter and kindness cannot be replaced.

“At the end of the day, he’s missed and loved,” Darien Cheatom said. “And his memories and spirit will still live on. And we’ll always love him.”