An 84-year-old man died Friday, several weeks after he was struck while in his wheelchair on an east Birmingham roadway.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office on Monday identified the victim as Erwin Ellis Curtis. He lived in Birmingham.

The crash happened at 10:58 a.m. Sunday, June 16, on Messer Airport Highway at Georgia Road. That was Father’s Day.

Authorities said Curtis was crossing the street when a vehicle struck him. The driver fled the scene.

Curtis was taken by ambulance to UAB Hospital where he died at 8:15 a.m. Friday, July 5.

His niece, Ilsa Curtis, said he was much loved.

“At 84 years old, Uncle Erwin was a pillar of strength, love, and wisdom for us all,’’ she said. “His presence filled our lives with joy, guidance, and cherished memories.”

Erwin called Ilsa from the scene of the wreck that Sunday. He didn’t want to go to the hospital, but she insisted.

Erwin had sustained bleeding on the brain and was put into a medically-induced coma. Before the crash, the uncle and niece spoke every Sunday by phone – Ilsa lives in New Jersey – and that was the last day they ever talked.

“He was a family oriented man – everyone in the family catered to him because he was our patriarch,’’ Ilsa said. “He was our legacy.”

Erwin worked all his life and retired from Coca-Cola.

“You don’t just throw someone like away,’’ she said of the hit-and-run.

The family had planned their first reunion to be held on July 27.

“Little did we know that we would be saying goodbye to our beloved Uncle in such a tragic way,’’ she said. “His life was cut short by a senseless act, leaving us all in disbelief and sorrow.”

The first reaction is to be angry,’’ Ilsa said, but the family reminds each other that it is out of their hands.

“We have to let the Lord handle it,’’ she said. “I do trust in the Lord, and he says, ‘Vengeance is mine.’’

“Though we grieve his loss deeply, we find solace in knowing that Uncle Erwin is now in the arms of the Lord,’’ she said. “His spirit will live on in each of us, guiding us with his wisdom and love. We trust in God’s plan, even when it’s hard to understand, and we lean on Him for strength during this difficult time.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham police or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.