by As a result of the unfortunate death of a heroic fireman, a family in the Bronx is in sorrow, and the New York City Fire Department is also in mourning.
Although Matthew Goicochea, 31, was off-duty at the time of his death, he was struck and killed by a vehicle on the FDR Drive early on Thursday morning. It was reported by the police that he was unable to traverse the route, fell from his motorcycle, and was then struck and killed by a car who did not remain at the scene of the accident.
Additionally, the investigation is still ongoing, and there have been no arrests made.
It is remembered that Matthew Goicochea was the “light source” for the family.
In a statement, Brigida Goicochea, the mother, expressed that she was unable to adequately describe the pain that she was experiencing at the moment.
“I can be a little serious, so whenever he was around, he would always make sure that I wasn’t taking everything so seriously, but he also made me braver,” Stephanie Goicochea stated in an interview.
According to his relatives, Matthew Goicochea was a passionate soccer player and attended Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx from which he graduated.
Samantha Goicochea, the sister, expressed her belief that “I think we are all going to carry on constantly with him as our light source.”
“Always with a joyful and cheerful expression on your face. According to the words of Robert Goicochea, the father, “always, always willing to help.”
Be careful yourself; don’t wait for someone else to be careful; you should be careful. Brigida Goicochea had this to say about the situation: “You think about that person who is on the road, and they are trying to get to their mother or their father.”
The family is currently in the process of making preparations for the funeral of Matthew Goicochea.
“An exceptional firefighter” and “a loyal son”
Matthew Goicochea had been with FDNY since 2022.
“Ever since he was a young child, he had a strong desire to join the New York City Fire Department,” stated Robert Goicochea.
According to Brigida Goicochea, “He would get excited about going into fires so that he could help people,” and she mentioned that he would do this.
In 2024, he was awarded a medal for his achievement of rescuing a fire victim who was unconscious.
Andrew Ansbro, the president of the firefighters’ union, issued a statement in which he referred to Matthew Goicochea as “an exceptional firefighter and a trusted member of his company.”
Everyone who knew him, including the members of Ladder 41, Engine 90 of the Bronx, and the Ten House, will mourn him terribly. His family in the Fire Department of New York will also miss him sincerely. The statement claimed, in part, that “we have lost a true hero in the prime of his life.” This is a tragedy that is shared by all New Yorkers.
“New York City… has suffered the loss of a devoted son. Robert Goicochea referred to him as “a loyal son.”
“When we went to the fire houses, you could tell that people were touched by him and touched by the loss,” Stephanie Goicochea stated in her statement.
The firehouse in the Bronx where Matthew Goicochea worked has been draped with purple and black bunting from this point forward.
“To have him be gone in a senseless accident, it crushes you,” captain Paul DeLeo of the Fire Department of New York said. “It’s a couple days from now when he won’t be coming to work anymore, that’s when it will really sink in.”
