A 23-year-old Pennsylvania man died in an alleged crash in Melbourne, Florida early Monday morning, less than two days after serving as best man in his father’s wedding.
As reported by Fox 35 Orlando, WESH NBC and News 6 Orlando, Andrew “Drew” Sofranko was killed just after midnight on Christmas morning while trying to cross South Harbor City Boulevard on foot.
He was hit by a driver behind the wheel of a white four-door Chevrolet, who reportedly fled the scene.
Sofranko was transported to Holmes Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, reports WESH NBC.
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“I was absolutely devastated. I mean, I loved him more than anyone in the world,” Andrew’s father, Douglas Sofranko, told WESH. “Losing a child is hard enough to fathom, but to go from literally the happiest moments of our lives to not even two full days later, the absolute worst horrible tragedy I’ve ever experienced in my entire life and ever will.”
“The doctor said he probably died immediately after the crash,” the elder Sofranko told Fox 35. “He didn’t have a pulse when the paramedics arrived. So there’s a little comfort in the fact that he didn’t feel any pain, but it doesn’t really help the broader picture.”
News 6 reported that Andrew plans to follow in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in the military.
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Hours before his death, Andrew gave a speech at his father’s wedding. “Dad, you were my hero and guide, and now to see you take this step with such grace and happiness fills my heart with immense joy,” Andrew said in a video clip from the ceremony.
According to NBC, a homicide investigation has been opened into Andrew’s death.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses. At the time of publication, $4,865 had been raised.
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