ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A mother from St. Johns County wants to use her grief as a message to other parents to take the time to tell your kids that you love them.
A traffic accident involving a motorcycle in St. Augustine on Wednesday resulted in the death of a 22-year-old man from St. Johns County.
Vanessa Scimone said her head is spinning after the sudden death of her youngest son, Nicolas, which happened just after her birthday. She said it's difficult to search for answers about his accident while coordinating funeral plans for a 22-year-old so full of life.
"He saved up to get that motorcycle and was so proud of it," said Vanessa Scimone. "It gives me peace of mind that I let him know I was proud of him because he bought his car on his own, he bought his motorcycle on his own."
Scimone said her son Nicolas was riding his red Triumph motorcycle southbound on Ponce De Leon Boulevard Wednesday afternoon, when he was involved in an accident near the intersection of Highway 207. The crash is still being investigated, but she said she knows this information because of data from Life360, which she made all of her children download.
"His things were at that location for 3 hours and 55 minutes based on life360," said Scimone. "So for it to happen around 2:45, but to not find out until 7, is like 'why? Why did it take so long?'"
Scimone said her son was going to start training to become a lineman and was engaged to be married. She said her son's fiancé is devastated.
"In the seven years they were together, they talked every day, so the 29th was the first day they ever went without talking, and was really hard for her," said Scimone.
Now entering a busy holiday weekend with many people on the roads, Scimone has a message for other parents.
"They always say to treat every day like your last, because you don't know when it will be your last," said Scimone. "That last day I saw Nic I got to give him a hug, I got to give him a kiss and I told him that I loved him."
Scimone said her son Nicolas will be cremated so people's lasting memory of her son will not be the motorcycle accident, but rather his smile.
Services for Nicolas Scimone will be held at Anchor Faith Church in St. Augustine at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 7.