A U.S. Marine and Rock Island Arsenal employee who was diagnosed with colon cancer was hit by a car when he was riding in the side car of a motorcycle during a benefit Fun Run that was planned to help him and his family.
On Saturday, August 24, 2013, Rob “Mazz” Mazzocco, a husband and father of two was in the lead of a pack of motorcyclists for a benefit organized to help lift the burden for him and his family. The plan was to make five stops starting and ending at the American Legion in Milan.
According to the Milan Police, around 11:30 a.m., Mazzocco was riding in the sidecar of a motorcycle on U.S. 67 when it collided with a vehicle crossing at W. 28th Ave.
Police have not confirmed what caused the accident.
Officers said there were two others on the motorcycle with Mazzocco; friends of Mazzoco said his 8-year-old son was one of the passengers and that he had been riding on the back.
"I, I got goosebumps right now, it's just, it's terrible you know," said Cindy Martin, a friend of Mazzocco's who planned the benefit.
Police said four people were taken to area hospitals. All of them left the hospital with minor injuries.
Supporters of the Mazzocco family planned the benefit after he was diagnosed with end stage metastatic colon cancer earlier in the summer. Mazzocco, his son and driver of the motorcycle made it to the benefit.
"I always look at it as being a fate kind of thing, when it's your time to go, it's your time to go," said Mazzocco. "It wasn't our time to die today either so that's why we're still here," he added.
Cindy Martin, the woman who organized the event, is creating a trust fund for Mazzocco's children. To donate, checks can be sent to her address: MDM Trust, 357 State Highway 135, Alexis, IL, 61412.