PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla -- A community is mourning the loss of a Treasure Coast High School football standout.
24 year-old Cedrick Wilcox Jr. died Sunday morning.
Florida Highway Patrol says he was pulled over on the side of I-95 and was outside of the car when he got hit by oncoming traffic.
"I just wish I had more time with him," said Josephine Wilcox, Cedrick's mother. "My baby was only 24 years old."
The unimaginable pain of losing a son is still fresh for her. "He's gone. I couldn't even see him and say bye to him," she says.
"Me and Cedrick, we were like best friends . He was always family first," said Cedrick Wilcox III, Cedrick's younger brother.
Cedrick was the oldest of 7 brothers and sisters.
All five brothers are named Cedrick.
"When people see me, they know me because of him, how respectful he was. How much of an athlete. How good his grades were," Cedrick Wilcox III says.
He graduated from Treasure Coast High School in 2010.
He was a stand-out varsity football player.
He continued playing in college at the University of North Alabama.
He was an aspiring model and firefighter.
It's not clear why his car was pulled over and he outside of his car. FHP says he was the passenger and its still investigating those details.
His mother believes he may have been switching seats with the driver.
Now she is sharing an important this message, hoping no other family has to experience a similar tragedy.
"Park away from the street. If you're broken down or if you're going to stop for any reason, park away from the road. Don't stop on the road if you don't have to," said Josephine.
Cedrick also leaves behind a 4-year-old daughter.
The family says anyone who would like to help donate to help cover funeral expenses can do so here: https://www.gofundme.com/h5sw3hx8
