Chris Broffman was the last person to see Marie Pizzino alive.
“One minute you’re talking to someone,” the 14-year-old said, “And the next thing you know, they’re on the ground dying.”
Broffman and Pizzino were walking home Friday night after shopping at Winn Dixie. The two teenagers were walking along the southbound side of Moon Lake Road when a driver hit Pizzino. Broffman doesn’t remember if the car hit him too, or if Pizzino knocked him to the ground.
Pizzino died on the side of Moon Lake Road near Nassau Drive. Broffman wasn’t hurt and he still can’t believe that his friend is dead.
“She didn’t deserve to die the way she did,” Broffman said. “She didn’t deserve to die at all.”
Broffman and Pizzino are neighbors at a nearby apartment complex. They both were students at River Ridge High School and recently became friends.
Pizzino was 17 years old. Broffman said she was a junior in high school and had big dreams.
“She wanted to go into law enforcement,” he said.
FHP said Marie Pizzino was hit and killed on this stretch of Moon Lake Road Friday night. (Amy Mariani, Staff)
There are no lights along that stretch of Moon Lake Road. No sidewalks, either. Broffman said the road is dangerous and doesn’t know what it’s going to take to bring attention to that issue.
“I guess it takes a minor to die for them to do something,” Broffman said.
Pizzino’s family dreads spending Christmas without her. But family members said she will live on. The teenager was an organ donor, and her corneas will help someone see again.