Derrick Cristobal: NY man on the way to pick up his daughter from day care dies 11 days after falling off e-scooter

QUEENS, NEW YORK: A Queens man, who was termed as "a loving partner and father" to his two-year-old daughter died from a head injury 11 days after falling off his e-scooter, leaving his family devastated and searching for answers.

Derrick Cristobal was on his way to pick up his two-year-old daughter from day care

Derrick Cristobal, 31, was riding his VSett 9+ scooter on the service road near 73rd Street in Maspeth on December 19 when he lost control and hit his head on the pavement, the Queens Post reported.

He was on the way to pick up his daughter Elizabeth from daycare, according to the Daily News.

Police found him conscious and alert at the scene, but could not confirm if he was wearing a helmet. He was taken to hospital, where he seemed stable at first, but his condition deteriorated over the next 11 days.

Cristobal died on December 30 after being taken off the life support.

Family’s ordeal as they were given tough choices for saving Derrick Cristobal

Cristobal’s longtime partner, Vanessa Balondo, 31, who met him in the Philippines and moved with him to New York after a long-distance relationship, said she noticed that he did not recognize anyone at the hospital.

“Even the hospital isn’t sure what happened to him. We are just hoping we can find closure on what happened to him,” she told the Daily News.

His brother, Arrizon Cristobal, 26, told the outlet that the doctors gave the family a difficult choice to perform a surgery that would remove half of his skull to relieve the pressure on his brain or to take him off life support.

The surgery had a high risk of death or permanent disability and would require constant care for the rest of his life.

“We made a decision based on what he would want and what his wife would want,” Arrizon said.

“Everything kind of happened fast … it’s difficult, yes, but there were moments where it felt like it was him saying goodbye in a way," Arrizon added.

A tribute to a ‘cheerful and loving person’

Balondo said Cristobal was her first boyfriend and a “typical guy, but his love is genuine.” She said he showed her that true love exists, and was a devoted father to their daughter.

“Because of him I know that true love exists, especially the love he gave to Elizabeth,” she said, adding “It’s very unconditional because every day, he gives his best.”

She said they had plans to have another child as Cristobal wanted Elizabeth to have a sibling to play with. “It’s really hard. I don’t know how to start again without him,” she said.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the grieving family with funeral and living expenses. The account describes Cristobal as a “cheerful and loving person” who was a good son, brother, friend, uncle, employee, husband, and father.

“Derick has always been a cheerful and loving person. He was known to be a good son, loving brother, a great friend, fun-loving uncle to his nephews, hardworking employee and most of all a supportive husband, and dedicated best father to his two-year-old daughter,” the account stated.

“May we always remember him with a smile on our faces, as he surely would have wanted,” it added.