By Jonathan Kaminsky
Reuters
OLYMPIA, Wash. — A man less than two weeks into a planned journey to dribble a soccer ball from his home city of Seattle to Brazil, the host nation for the 2014 World Cup, died on Tuesday after being struck by a car in Oregon, police and the man’s supporters said.
Richard Swanson, 42, was struck as he walked on the shoulder of a road on the outskirts of Lincoln City just east of the Oregon coast, said Lincoln City Police Sergeant Randy Weaver. Swanson’s soccer ball was found nearby, Weaver said.
Swanson’s death was mourned in a post on the Facebook page titled “Breakaway Brazil,” which he had used to document his planned journey. It was supposed to culminate with his arrival in Brazil in time for the World Cup, which begins in June 2014.
Full story: Seattle man dribbling soccer ball to Brazil dies after being hit by car