TACOMA, Wash. -- A father of two young children was killed in a hit-and-run in Tacoma when a collision with an SUV threw him from his motorcycle. Now, his family is pleading with the driver to come forward.
"We just want closure right now. We want answers," said Tunnell Chocklon, brother of Darnell Chocklon, 30. "There's no problem with coming forward. You're a better man or better woman to come forward."
It happened just after 2 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of North 9th Street and North Ainsworth Avenue in Tacoma's North End neighborhood, said Tacoma Police. A southbound SUV apparently collided in the intersection with Darnell's orange Honda motorcycle, which was heading eastbound.
Chocklon was thrown over a parked car and into some nearby grass, said his family, while his motorcycle slid into the southwest street curb.
The SUV, described as a white 1993-1995 Jeep Cherokee Laredo with black trim, drove off. The vehicle likely has damage on the passenger side, and may contain orange paint from the motorcycle, said investigators. The passenger side windows also were shattered in the crash.
"I can't believe it," said Tunnell. "I mean, even though I know, I still think he's going to pull around the corner saying "What's wrong, you guys?"
Tunnell Chocklon says he and his little brother grew up playing the same sports, enjoying the same hobbies. Tunnell said he now lives in Denver, but he and his brother talked often over the phone.
"We would talk to each other every week, every other day," he said. "Just, 'How you doing? I'm doing good, man, I love you."
It's a phrase used often by both father and sons.
"When we parted from each other, we always said... 'I love you Dad.' 'I love you son,'" said Wallace Chocklon, Darnell's father.
A small cross, balloons, and flowers now mark the location where Darnell died. All day, neighbors brought gifts to lay at the memorial.
"I hope he likes blue," said one woman as she lay a dark blue teddy bear at the foot of the cross.
Both Wallace and Tunnell were out of town when the crash happened. Both rushed here looking for answers.
"[We thought] we'll find out who did it." said Wallace. "We'll just find out the whole truth when I get here. And then to find out that the person didn't stop?"
Darnell leaves behind Suriyah, his 3-year old daughter, and Darnell Thomas, his 19-month-old son.
"There's just so many little things that remind us of Darnell that you just, you just lose it in the quiet moments," said Wallace.
Darnell's 31st birthday was two weeks away.
Wallace, a Boeing employee, has set up a benevolent fund with the Boeing Credit Union to help provide for Darnell's children, who live with their mother in Spokane.
Dad and brother describe Darnell as a jack-of-all-trades who most recently was working installing and fixing garage doors. They are all from Covington originally, and Wallace said Darnell was in Tacoma Saturday morning visiting a friend who runs a nearby club.
If you have any information regarding the crash, please contact the Tacoma Police Department or Tacoma-Pierce County Crime Stoppers at 253-591-5959.
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