Family, friends remember man killed in crash

ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A makeshift memorial sits at the intersection where a 26-year-old man was hit and killed on Saturday. Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol say the driver who rear-ended him had been drinking.

“He’s our everything, everything, and you don’t ever think this is going to happen to you,” said Jessica Aksu. “Everybody here loved Matt, and he knew it and he left us with knowing that he was very loved.”

Emotions ran high for friends and family who gathered together at Universal Blvd. and Destination Parkway, where troopers say Matthew Pasciucco was stopped at red light early Saturday morning.

Investigators say the driver of the car in front of him, Yamil Rodriguez, 22, was under the influence and rear-ended Pasiucco, sending his car into two other vehicles, causing it burst into flame. Bystanders tried to pull him out but he died at the scene, meanwhile they say Rodriguez ran away.

“They said that he ran and my heart sank but before we left the scene, a cop came over and told us that they got him,” Aksu said.

Troopers found Rodriguez and arrested him, meanwhile Pasciucco grieving wife hopes her husband’s tragic death sends an important message.

“We need to make sure we save lives with this, please use and Uber or a Lyft or call someone that you know will come and get you it’s not worth this,” Aksu said.

Rodriguez was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal crash and DUI manslaughter, he is out on bond.