Sandys Blog

A Hillsborough man was killed and two other Central Jerseyans were injured when an SUV rolled over early this morning on Route 18 near the Gordons Corner Road overpass.

Zachary Finch, 26, of Hillsborough, a front-seat passenger, was thrown from the Jeep Cherokee during the rollover, at about 1:15 a.m., and pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Asbury Park Press.

Driver Bryn Kolodziejski, 21, of the Whitehouse Station section of Readington, and rear-seat passenger Jared Makowski, 25, of Manville, were transported to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick with injuries that were not life-threatening, First Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Peter Warshaw said, the newspaper reported on its Web site.

Warshaw said the prosecutor's office and Marlboro police are investigating, and the Monmouth County Medical Examiner's Office is expected to conduct an autopsy Monday, the newspaper reported.

It's always sad to hear that someone you know has died. Whether it's a family member, friend or just an acquaintance. The death of Zack was particularly hard for me, even though I barely knew him. There is something about that moment when you hear the news. A moment of disbelief--if not days of it. I don't even know how to express all the feelings that have gone through me in the past week. Let me try.

I met Zack back in January. It was a night I particularly remember because I got in a car accident after we left the bar..kind of strange looking back on it now. But anyway, as soon as I walked up to say 'Hi' to my friend, James, Zack immediately started talking to my sister and I--the friendliest, chattiest, funniest guy I had ever met at that place. He was the kind of guy that left an impression on you. I'm very bad with names..but I didn't forget his.

After that night I only saw Zack on a few occasions. Here and there at the bar..always a smile on his face, surrounded by friends--yet always took the time to come say 'Hey, how are ya?' to the girls that he barely knew and met months before.

It's interesting how fondly I think of him, with that little interaction and time knowing each other...and I think I've figured out why. His friends. Seeing how absolutely devastated his friends were when he passed was almost more than I could take. We had mutual friends, and seeing the look in their eyes over the past week..it just hits you hard. They all knew that Zack was someone special. A friend that you have for life, that didn't have a bad bone in his body, that can never be replaced or forgotten.

I hope that Zack knows how much of an impression he has made on his friends' lives..and mine.

It is true what they say...only the good die young.

Rest in peace, Zack. We miss you.

"Live Fast, Die Awesome" - Zack Finch

Zack's Memorial Page: http://www.myspace.com/zack_finch_memorial_page

Parker's Article: http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007707130408

sandy @ 18:33 | comments(14) | Permanent link