JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The family of a 19-year-old Jacksonville man who was killed after being hit by a pickup truck in Clay County has identified him, saying he was completing work for his job when the fatal incident occurred.
According to the family, Matthew Steven Joseph Thompson was working along US-17 in Green Cove Springs when the truck fatally struck him near JP Hall Boulevard on Wednesday morning.
He would later die at the hospital.
The family tells News4JAX that Matthew had been working in the road construction industry for the last two years, and had been working at the Green Cove Springs site alongside his dad for the past few months.
However, they said the worst part about the incident was that Matthew’s father was there when it happened.
“I can’t explain it,” his father said. “I have moments where I can keep it collected, and there are moments I just fall apart. You know that’s my own son, you know…It’s just terrible, I can’t put it into words."
Sharrie Thompson, Matthew’s mother, said her son was the heart of the family and had “the purest soul.”
“Matthew touched so many people’s lives with his bright and shining everything,” she said.
His parents also described him as someone who loved God, his family, and was a big jokester.
The parents added that they believe this entire incident was an unfortunate accident, but they do want people to slow down when they’re driving through construction zones.
“Those are someone’s family members, someone’s son, someone’s dad, someone’s uncle,” Sharrie said, adding that no one deserves to die while trying to work.
Sharrie tells News4JAX her son was also an organ donor, adding that others may live because of his generosity and selflessness.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the woman who hit Matthew is cooperating with their investigation.
News4JAX contacted FHP for a comment on this story, but has not received a response.
The family has created a GoFundMe to help with funeral expenses, which can be found here.
