DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) – The city’s budget director was killed when his bicycle was struck by a motorist, authorities said Friday.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol says John Joseph Allore, 59, of Chapel Hill, was riding his bike west on Bradshaw Quarry Road in Durham shortly after 7 a.m. Thursday.

Troopers say a car driven by Karen Denisse Maldonaldo, 26, of Efland, was headed in the same direction and hit the cyclist in the back after failing to reduce her speed.

Troopers say Allore died at the scene.

Maldonaldo is charged with failure to reduce speed and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, troopers said.

City Manager Wanda Page called Allore “the ultimate professional” and praised him as “a dedicated and passionate public servant” who had been with the city since 1999 and took over as budget management services director in January 2022.

City council member Jillian Johnson said Allore worked for the City of Durham for 24 years.

She posted about his death Friday morning.

“It’s crazy to talk about John in the past tense,” she wrote in a tweet. “He was friendly, funny, kind, helpful, and so dedicated to making sure our budget reflected our values and our community needs. We are all going to miss him.”

City council member Leonardo Williams also posted about Allore’s death Thursday night on social media.

Williams asked for prayers for the city and the staff in his tweet.

“John was a dedicated public servant, a loving father of three daughters, & a loyal friend,” officials shared on social media.