Kristian Daniel Sr., father of American road racer Kristian Daniel Jr., was found dead in a tunnel flooded by the hurricane-like storms that hit Catalonia. He was 43.

Just last week, the younger Daniel, who has raced in Europe for several years, had signed to race in the Moto3 World Championship with KTM. Daniel Sr. had moved the family from Los Angeles to Spain several years ago to allow his son to race in Europe.

According to media reports in Spain, the elder Daniel was found by authorities very close to the van in which father and son traveled daily to train on their motorcycles. The van was stuck inside a flooded tunnel in Les Franqueses del Vallès in Barcelona. The family had reported him missing the day before.

“I know you probably won’t be able to read this, and you don’t know how hard and surreal it is for me to write this message. But I want you to know that you should be proud. You gave me everything I need to be a great person,” Daniel Jr. posted on social media. “I would have loved to celebrate our successes, and it’s not fair that you were taken from me just as we were starting the real work. But it seems your time has come, and I want you to see me, Dad, because I’m going to go far. I will never give up, just like you taught me.”

R.I.P., Kristian …