ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A St. Johns County widow wants everyone to drive responsibly this holiday season after her husband was killed in a crash earlier this year.
It happened at the intersection of St. Johns Parkway and Silverlake Drive.
Mark Sabri was the man killed in that crash which happened on January 2.
“I still feel like this isn’t happening,” Shima Sedighi, the wife of Sabri said.
Sedighi said she remembers the last moments she had with Sabri.
He was leaving home to go to the store and pick up toppings for the pizza they were going to make for dinner.
She described her husband whose occupation was a system engineer, as brilliant, lively, caring and a great father to their daughter.
She also mentioned how he was constantly thinking and planning, especially for their retirement.
However, he never got a chance to reach retirement because Sedighi said he was taken from her in the crash.
According to a social media post by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, 49-year-old Phillip Barry was arrested in connection to the deadly crash.
The sheriff’s office said on Jan. 2, they received several calls about a blue truck driving recklessly.
Deputies saw the vehicle run a red light and hit a white Tesla.
The driver of the Tesla died.
Barry was driving the truck. The post continued and mentioned a toxicology report, that showed Barry was under the influence of several controlled substances.
He was arrested on several charges including DUI Manslaughter and Vehicular Homicide.
Sedighi said one of the saddest parts about her husband’s death is it happened in front of their subdivision, and she has to pass the intersection where it happened daily.
“One thing that I see when I get here is I panic thinking about the same thing is going to happen, is someone going to run a red light and hit me,” Sedighi said.
To remember her husband, Sedighi recently made a shadow box of all his milestones and placed a temporary memorial near the intersection where he died.
She also said after looking at Barry’s toxicology report and seeing tetrahydrocannabinol, which is found in marijuana, she wants to warn other drivers to think twice about what they put in their body when getting behind the wheel.
“It can be life-changing,” Sedighi said. “Our life has been changed forever, and my daughter won’t have her dad growing up anymore.”
Following this tragedy, the now widow plans to use her position as a doctor to educate children and parents on the side effects of marijuana. If anyone has questions about the effects, you can reach her at sssedighi@gmail.com.
She also mentioned her family is planning to celebrate Mark’s life this weekend since all of his family will be in town for the holidays.