JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville couple is grieving two sons, both hit and killed by cars exactly three months apart.
Police say Dalton Penkacik died after he was struck by a vehicle on Blanding Blvd. early Friday morning.
In September, his 12-year-old brother Brighton Penkacik died when he was hit by a car on his way to school.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says the driver didn't stop to help Dalton, and that's what really hurts the family. They want the person responsible to come forward.
Jason and Shawnee Penkacik woke up to a knock at the door around 3 a.m. Friday. It was police officers delivering news no parent wants.
Their 25-year-old son Dalton was the victim of a deadly hit-and-run while walking to his job at an Amazon delivery center.
Exactly three months ago, they lost another son: Brighton, who was struck by a vehicle on his way to school on Sept. 1.
"This whole day has kind of felt very surreal,” Jason said. “I think with Brighton it was more immediate. His brother had witnessed it happen, and so it was more about him, our son. Getting him through it, what he had to go through."
Jason said when Brighton died, Dalton took on responsibilities to help his parents and siblings through their grief.
The couple has ten other children, and they spent most of the day explaining why Dalton is not coming home.
"They called it Groundhog Day,” Shawnee said. “How could we be going through September 1st, but it's December, all over again?"
Detectives suspect the car involved is a Volkswagen based on scene evidence. Police say the driver didn't stop to help Dalton or call 911. His parents say knowing that is the worst part.
"I don't know what their state of mind was, obviously, but to hit somebody and just keep going and leave them in the street to die,” Jason said. “That was the hardest thing when we first found out."
They want justice for their son.
"How could you just hit him and leave? I don't understand it. I don't understand humanity," Shawnee said.
For now, they're trying to find a way forward, through the heartbreak of losing Dalton and Brighton.
"You know tomorrow will be there,” Jason said. “You know you'll get through it. It's just kind of hard seeing how that will happen, and that's where you have to have the faith and trust in God that he'll get you there."
Anyone with information about the incident, is encouraged to call JSO's non-emergency number at 904-630-0500 or to remain anonymous and be eligible for a possible cash reward, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS.