Family, friends remember man killed by drunk driver with hugs

Family and friends are mourning the loss of a 23-year-old Colorado Springs man gone too soon.

Andrew Shada was hit and killed by an alleged drunk driver early Saturday morning on El Camino Drive. Friends said he was in his driveway unpacking his car, when a car driving down the street jumped the curb and hit him. The driver, John Marvel, was arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, and other traffic charges.

Shada’s brother, Austin, remembers getting the horrifying news from his mom.

“She said we had to go to my brother and sister’s house because there were a lot of police cars there and something happened to Andrew,” Austin said. “We didn’t know what happened and I would have never expected that.”

And finding out his brother died was more than he could bear.

“I couldn’t comprehend it,” Austin said, through tears. “I just could never imagine the feeling I would feel if he was…to go, because i never wanted him to go. He was my younger brother.”

He and dozens of other friends remember Shada as a loving man. They said he was man with big dreams to help others and constantly tried to make everyone laugh.

“He was always the first to say, ‘You sir! You look like you need a hug!'” said close friend Jackson Rachlis-Graham.

Friends held a “Free Hugs” event in Acacia Park on Monday night. Dozens showed up, hugging each other, sharing stories of Shada. Even strangers that never met Shada came over for hugs.

“He always wanted to spread that love. He would’ve hugged every person here, so I hope that these people go out and spread the love for him,” Rachlis-Graham said.

Shada’s brother said memorials like that help him cope with the tragedy.

“I was just amazed, he had so many people that I didn’t even know he know, let alone care for him like that,” Austin said. “It was just so good to have that many people there.

Shada was working with the group Hug It Forward to help build a school in Guatamala in March. Now the group will be dedicating the school in his name.