MIAMI – Friends and family of Daniel “Danny” Bishop gathered at the University of Miami on Tuesday to honor his memory, unveiling a bench and plaque bearing his name on the one-year anniversary of the crash that claimed his life.
“We’re devastated by our loss,” said Susan Bishop, Daniel’s mother. “I know he’s looking down on all of us and smiling.”
Bishop, 22, was riding his scooter to campus on March 4, 2024, when authorities said he was struck by an SUV while using the crosswalk at LeJeune Road and Altara Avenue.
Police said the driver of the SUV, Veronica Bilbao de la Vega, 38, was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian and for having an expired license. She was sentenced last month to six months of probation.
“It’s hard to believe, but it’s much harder to accept,” Susan Bishop added.
Bishop’s promising future was cut short.
He was the salutatorian at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and had survived the mass shooting there before enrolling at UM.
“The happiest days of my life were when I got to spend time with Daniel,” said friend Alejandro Bolivar Cervone. “He was such a bright light who cared so much about community.”
Bishop was majoring in mathematics and psychology and had recently been hired to teach math at Gulliver Preparatory School.
After carefully placing colorful balloons beside the plaque, Bishop’s mother announced the creation of a foundation in his name to benefit Breakthrough Miami.
3:30 p.m. report:
“Daniel was a teaching fellow with us in the summer of 2023,” said Lori-Ann Cox, CEO of Breakthrough Miami. “We are so grateful to be the beneficiaries of a donation. He really made such a huge impact.”
Daniel Bishop also worked as a tour guide on campus, and his friends helped fund the plaque in his honor.
The foundation established in his name, Daniel’s Infinite Dream, continues his legacy.
Meanwhile, the Bishop family has filed a lawsuit against the driver involved in the crash that took his life.
