Marine vet, 28, is struck and killed by truck while changing tire on shoulder of Chicago freeway

A Marine veteran was struck and killed by a truck while he changed his tire on the shoulder of Chicago freeway on Sunday night. 

Nikolas Hutto, 28, was on his way to grab deep dish pizza after a Blackhawks game with friends when his car hit a pothole and got a flat tire. 

He pulled to the right shoulder on I-55 near Cicero Avenue and Garfield Ridge and got out of the car with his friends to change the tire around 6.40pm. 

As they did that, a pickup truck, driving on the shoulder, came charging at them and hit the three of them. 

Nikolas died on impact and his two friends were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the truck was also taken to the hospital. 

'I was worried that I would have to feel this way years ago, but now, now it's happened,' Jeffery Hutto, Nikolas's dad told ABC 7 Chicago. 

Nikolas Hutto, 28, was on his way to grab food after a Blackhawks game on Sunday night with friends when he was mowed down by a pick-up truck on the should of I-55 in Chicago 

Nikolas died and his two friends was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the truck was also taken to the hospital

The pick-up driver has not yet been identified and it is unclear why he drove on the shoulder that night. 

The Illinois State Police told DailyMail.com that the crash is still being investigated and 'only preliminary information' is available for now.  

Nikolas's friends, who were visiting him from Florida, were released from the hospital on Monday.  

Nikolas's relatives said that he had just moved to the south suburbs of Chicago a few months ago after retiring from the service in 2020. 

He joined the Marines in 2015 after high school and served in the Middle East. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 2020. 

'He was satisfied walking away from it. He felt like he accomplished what he set out to do during his time there,' his mother, Tammy Hutto told the Chicago Sun Times. 

Once he left the Marines, he got a job in the information technology field and set out to earn his master's degree at Penn State University. 

He moved from Tampa, Florida to Tinley Park in November after he and his girlfriend, Monica Czajkowski bought a home together in September. 

'I was worried that I would have to feel this way years ago, but now, now it's happened,' Jeffery Hutto, Nikolas's dad told ABC 7 Chicago

He moved from Tampa, Florida to Tinley Park in November after he and his girlfriend, Monica Czajkowski bought a home together in September. His father said he was just 'weeks away from proposing' to her 

He joined the Marine in 2015 after high school and served in the Middle East. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 2020

His father told ABC 7 Chicago that Nikolas was just 'weeks away from proposing' to Monica. 

On Monday, Monica posted a photo of her and Nikolas and said: 'Heaven gained the sweetest angel.' 

Nikolas was one of six kids, and was the first to join the military. After him, three of his brothers joined the service. 

'Nik was the man. If they has questions, he was who they asked. Everyone that met Nik loved him,' Tammy said. 

Jeremy Eckert, one of Nikolas's friends from the Marines recalled some of his fondest moments with him. 

'I'll always remember every time I hugged him, every time we slept in the same room in the barracks, and I'm just honored to meet him,' Eckert said. 

A GoFundMe, created by another friend, Matthew Kahl, was set up in honor of Nikolas. 

'Nik was the man. If they has questions, he was who they asked. Everyone that met Nik loved him,' Tammy Hutto, Nikolas's mother said

Nikolas was one of six kids, and was the first to join the military. After him, three of his brothers joined the service

Donations are set to go toward his family and girlfriend 'in this most troubling time,' and as of Wednesday morning, more than $13,000 was raised.

'Nikolas was motivated not only in his professional career but also in his inherent dedication to self-improvement,' Kahl wrote.

His friend also mentioned that even though Nikolas went to Penn State, he was a 'die-hard' Michigan fan. 

'Nikolas was the embodiment of a perfect son, brother, and friend. Nikolas was taken too early from us and will never be forgotten,' Kahl added. 

His father said that he and his family have been overwhelmed with the support that they have received following his son's death. 

'I’m overwhelmed and I'm humbled at the support that has come in from our friends from every corner of our life. Without all of this support, we would be a mess,' he said.