Friends remember woman fatally struck by car as 'great person, hard worker'

Mary Ann Matteucci, 66, struck by car on Hallandale Beach Boulevard

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Friends are mourning the loss of a woman who was struck by a car Monday afternoon in Hallandale Beach.

"She was a great person. She helped everyone. She worked hard," Judy DiAmore said.  

DiAmore struggled to hold back tears Tuesday as she spoke to Local 10 News about her friend of 7 years, Mary Ann Matteucci, 66, who was killed as she was crossing the street.

The pair lived next door to each other and saw each other nearly every day.

"We sat here talking. I said, 'I'm going down to the pool.' And that was it. That was it," DiAmore said.

Diamore said she saw Matteucci right before she went out on a shopping trip, never thinking that would be the last time she would see her again.

"Never in a million years would I think something like this would happen to one of my friends," DiAmore said.

Matteucci, a New Jersey native, has lived in Hallandale Beach for at least 7 years. She worked at the Rustic Inn Crabhouse. A manager there said she was a great server and one that will be truly missed.

Matteucci was on her day off from the restaurant when she decided to go shopping.

Police said she was struck by a car while crossing the street after leaving a Walmart in the 2500 block of East Hallandale Beach Boulevard.

"Unfortunately she was not using the crosswalk," Hallandale Beach police Maj. Sonia Quinones said. "The driver did not see her. The driver remained on the scene and is cooperating with the investigation."

Police said the driver, Cecilio Romero Marcilli, 51, tried to avoid Matteucci, but it was too late.

"He did everything possible to veer out of the way, but unfortunately, struck the pedestrian," Quinones said.  

Matteucci was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital, where she died.

Her friends and co-workers are trying to come to terms with her sudden passing.

"Everybody here loved her," DiAmore said. "She would do anything for anybody, and worked very hard."


About the Author:

Sanela Sabovic joined Local 10 News in September 2012 as an assignment editor and associate producer. In August 2015, she became a full-time reporter and fill-in traffic reporter. Sanela holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with a concentration in radio, television and film from DePaul University.