GIBSON TOWNSHIP -- For friends and family members of Andrew Mazza, mourning his death is not how they expected to spend Andrew's 24th birthday.
Instead of celebrating, they were raising a cross at the spot of a car crash that claimed Andrew's life.
“Everyone here, everyone misses him. He's an unbelievable person,” said Chris Mazza, Andrew’s cousin.
Andrew died after the car he was riding in ended up in a creek on its roof after the driver, 20-year-old Jonathan Yacinovich, was coming around a curve on Barlow Road near Gibson back in February.
Yacinovich, Andrew, and a female passenger, Taryn Roscioli, were all taken to the hospital.
Andrew died on the way.
“It's devastating and we will grieve forever for him,” said friend Dawn Ziegler.
The memorial for Andrew comes a day after Yacinovich was arraigned on several charges, including homicide by vehicle and DUI.
He was released on $ 100,000 secured bail.
Investigators say Yacinovich initially lied and told them Andrew had been driving that night.
“He gets out on hundred thousand dollars bail and jumps in the driver seat of a car. I don't see that as being justice,” said Mazza. “DUI and everything else that happened, clearly you know?”
“Especially on his birthday today we'd much rather be celebrating that than an indictment,” said Ziegler.
And friends say Andrew's last act was to save Taryn, who was sitting in the front passenger seat.
“When they were trapped in the car, the girl couldn't quite get to an air pocket and he jammed his feet underneath her to boost her up and they were communicating a little bit,” said Mazza. “He was a hero, went out saving somebody, most selfless thing somebody could do, you know?”
NEPA Community Health Care will hold a fundraiser in Andrew’s name to raise money to build a new healthcare center in Clifford.
Once the facility is built, it will be named the Andrew Mazza Memorial Health Center.
The event is September 10 at Creekside Grover on Route 374 in Lenoxville from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more information email donationsforAndrew@gmail.com.
