Horrible news broke over the weekend. ABC reported that 33-year-old Oculus Rift co-founder Andrew Reisse was killed as the result of a hit and run accident.

The hit and run apparently occurred during a high-speed chase between police and escaping gang members.

As news spread, the Oculus Rift team released a lengthy statement:

"Andrew was a brilliant computer graphics engineer, an avid photographer and hiker who loved nature, and a loyal friend. Andrew was unique in so many interesting ways. He was extraordinarily kind and utterly selfless. He was a mentor and an inspiration to everyone around him.

Some of us have known Andrew since college, and have worked with him at multiple companies beginning with Scaleform in Maryland which he helped start at age 19, then at Gaikai in Aliso Viejo which brought him out to California, and finally at Oculus where he was a co-founder and lead engineer.

Andrew’s contributions span far and wide in the video game industry. His code is embedded in thousands of games played by millions of people around the world.”

The group’s full response can be read here.

Our thoughts go to Reisse's family, friends, and others close to him.

:(

So incredibly sad. R.I.P

Yes I read this over the weekend. It's crazy when people in the industry die. It's so rare that it happens, but it's still scary sobering to see.

Kind of a bit late with this one Scoopz man

Doesnt make it any less tragic what happened to the guy though :(

R.I.P. Totally senseless death.

Terrible news. He was a brilliant mind, taken out by a pile of shit.

A really unfortunate way to pass on, but then again there are very few ways that are.

I somehow missed this story over the weekend. Such a shame. Rest in peace.

Rest in peace. Thoughts go out to the family and friends.

R.I.P sir, it is a terrible loss to the industry.

Horrendous news. What a loss.

R.I.P and thoughts to his family and friends.

Sad news to hear.

Rest in peace dude.

For some reason it's weird to me when something so real happens in the video game industry. RIP

@mrfluke: I first heard of the tragedy via Patrick's Twitter account on Friday night. I respect that Giant Bomb let family and friends grieve over the weekend before officially noting Mr. Reisse's passing.

But :( indeed. Hug your families, we can never be sure when any of our ends will come.

Reminds me of Gunpei Yokoi. What a bummer...

It's humbling to read about such unbridled creativity. And it's sobering when it's forcefully snuffed out.

People like him are a rarity, period. What untold innovations and yet-undiscovered solutions could he have dreamed up over the next, say, 20 years? The world will now never know. RIP

Fuck this news :(

Wait did the gang member or the police officer hit him? When I first read this on Twitter it sounded like he cop is who hit him but I may be totally mistaken.

Sorry to state this obvious but... This fucking sucks.

Exactly what I was thinking. The same thing too, creates a device that simulates virtual reality...only to be struck down in a car related accident. Horrible.

Yeah, I'd like to know too. It's a bit confusing what actually happened. Was he IN the crash, or just a sad bystander that was too close to the action?

Terrible. Just terrible.

This is horrible news. I hope the police caught the person who hit him. Rest in Peace Andrew.

very sad indeed - he'll never see how the rift changes this industry and what impacts it may have on society beyond gaming

Not trying to start any sort of debate in here, because that's really inappropriate. But, out of curiosity, why is that information important?

Sad news though, I wish his friends and family the best.

Curiosity is all. I'm not belittling his death - it's very sad that it happened. I just want to know what actually happened.

Very sad news for a person at the very edge of something legendary. My thoughts are with his family and friends

R.I.P Andrew 8(

Fuck this, man. This guy has done so much for the industry and probably would have gone on to help revolutionise it.

Well, fuck. RIP.

So sad. He didn't even get to see his product release. I wish his family and friends the best. What a horrible thing to happen.

Absolutely terrible news.

"Andrew’s contributions span far and wide in the video game industry. His code is embedded in thousands of games played by millions of people around the world."

That part makes me smile a little bit. He will definitely live on through his contributions to this industry, most notably in helping make such a revolutionary piece of technology.

My thoughts are with his loved ones. RIP Andrew Reisse.

Fair enough. From what I gathered, and I didn't look too far into the details, he was on foot, and hit by the man fleeing who was police.

I didn't know about this so I appreciate the article, though skipping the messenger part I wished I had not. I suppose I can better answer now a question of my lack of feeling when the Alpha movie reviewer died. Here it matters to me a bit more, on a selfish level that I was more in tune with Andrew Reisse's suspected video game opinions. But especially the fact he was young, and that description of him constitute ideals I like to see of the successful.. And I hate to tack it on, but again he a promising engineer of something I valued.

My best wishes and condolences to those directly affected. Always for them in both cases anyway.

In a way, I really don't. The real story that matters won't be told that way--the real story is the family and friends he left behind, and what they need is privacy and space.

@jakkblades: Fair enough, and I understand your side. However, I'm not bugging his family and friends he left behind with my question. Either way, it was answered so my curiosity is sated.

RIP.

Horrible, let's all remember to look everywhere when we are walking, especially wearing headphones!

rip

:(

do you have aspergers

@cloneslayer: I can't believe you wrote a paragraph in objection to the use of a single word in a headline.

@vrikk: It was the vehicle that the police were chasing that hit him, not the police.