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Man Dies In Philadelphia Hit-Run Accident After Celebrating Birthday

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The candlelight vigil was a celebration of life and a mourning of its loss at the same time.

"We were all just very close," said Kate Zolk. Zolk is the aunt of Billy McCue, 28, who died on Richmond Street early Sunday morning while walking home alone. He had been out celebrating his birthday with his friends, when a driver heading north hit and killed him.

More than a hundred people gathered tightly around the scene of the crash, setting up a makeshift memorial to remember a friend. At its center were the balloons and cake for McCue's birthday.

"We just hope they understand who they took from us," Zolk said.

Watch the video...

Billy McCue's death is the second loss in recent months for his family. His mother lost her battle with cancer two months ago. Now the loss of McCue is one more death that is hard to understand.

"For us, it's been like a shock and we're questioning why us?," said Zolk.

Minutes before the crash, McCue posted on his Facebook page that he was walking home alone. His family and friends wish they could have been with him to keep the crash from ever happening.

Police are still looking for the driver of the car in the hit and run. They say the car likely has damage to its hood and windshield.

Reported by Oren Liebermann, CBS 3

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