MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The co-founder of Lulu’s Cafe & Bakery on Poplar Avenue is still recovering more than two weeks after being seriously injured in a hit-and-run bicycle crash.

Don Gaines said he was riding his bike toward downtown on July 14 when he was hit by a driver who ran a stop sign at Vance and Walnut Street.

Gaines said the driver saw him lying on the street, but didn’t stick around.

“They almost t-boned me, and I kind of saw it happening, and I turned as hard as I could, but there was still a collision,” said Gaines. “I was lying on the ground there, and I kind of looked over and saw that they were still there. I was kind of amazed that they were still there, and I was like, I bet they’re not going to stay, and as I had that thought, they drove off.”

Gaines said after he was hit, a few motorists passed by him, but some good Samaritans did stop to help. He was transported to the hospital with broken ribs and a partially punctured lung.

“A couple stopped, and another guy stopped and got my bike out of the street, and a couple had already called because I was kind of like disoriented, trying to figure out what I could do and couldn’t do,” Gaines said.

Gaines spent two nights in the hospital and just returned to Lulu’s this week on a limited basis. He said his absence has hurt the small, staffed worker-owned co-op business and forced them to close their doors on Sundays.

A GoFundMe has been set up to keep Lulu’s open and help Gaines with any unexpected medical bills. It’s already raised over $12,000.

“We’re trying to make sure that the business can continue going and also try to make sure that I can maybe still receive a paycheck,” said Gaines. “People have been very generous so far, and it’s gonna help me do stuff like pay rent while we’re waiting for all the bills to come in, and figuring all this out, and seeing what the grand total is gonna be.”

Gaines said bicycle advocates are looking for ways to improve biking safety in Memphis, and a large cycling event is being held on Nov. 9 downtown.

He said he’s not mad at the driver who ran, but wished they had stayed and taken responsibility for their actions.

“I don’t know, there’s a million reasons someone might run away. It sucks,” said Gaines.

A Memphis Fire Department crew responding to an accident told police they saw a red four-door sedan with front-end damage speeding off Southbound on Walnut away from the scene.

If you have any information about the hit-and-run, contact CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.