Felicity Martini was quite the prankster, one of her siblings remembered Wednesday.
One time years ago when older brother Lewie Martini was showing her some martial arts moves, she snuck a ketchup packet up her sleeve and pretended to be hurt during the roughhousing, he remembered. The ruse was busted when he smelled vinegar.
“She always kind of liked to stir the pot,” he said.
Martini described his 15-year-old sister as an easy-going girl who shared a joy in some of his hobbies. Their sibling relationship evolved and continued even as he grew up and moved out on his own. The 10-year age gap didn’t matter.
“We were hard on each other but it was all out of good fun,” he said.
Felicity Martini was one of four Yough High School students killed in a car crash Saturday in Sewickley Township. Police said she was riding in the backseat when the car slammed into a tree on rural Derr Road and caught fire.
Rocco A. Zugai, 18, was behind the wheel of the Kia Forte when it crashed. Brady D. Hunker, 15, was in the passenger seat and Kylee Nicole Korber, 16, was in the back with Martini.
The preliminary investigation showed that speed likely was a factor in the crash, state police said. Autopsies and toxicology tests are pending. State troopers are trying to narrow down a timeline leading up to the crash in an effort to figure out where the group had been that night and where they were heading.
The crash was reported at 3:30 a.m., but investigators believe it happened much earlier based on the damage to the car. The last contact with someone in the car was at 1:30 a.m.
Family members of the other three students could not be reached Wednesday.
Felicity Martini of Yukon was into competitive archery, a hobby she liked to share with Lewie Martini, he said. When he still lived at home, it seemed like every day they’d be out in the backyard practicing with a bow.
“That’s how we bonded,” he said.
That bond solidified their relationship as both got older. While Lewie Martini, 25, of Laughlintown, said he didn’t see his sister as much now, they still talked regularly.
“She would always text me, call me for advice,” he said.
As a sophomore, Martini enjoyed art classes and her obituary described her as a “good-hearted, bubbly, sometimes dramatic girl with a sweet little giggle.” She liked fishing, riding a quad, practicing gymnastics and playing video games. Those are all important memories to her family, Lewie Martini said.
“I don’t want her just to be a name on a cross just because of an accident,” her brother said.
In addition to him, she is survived by parents Lewis D. and Heather Martini, siblings Courtney Schmidt, Cody Schmidt and Mark Martini; niece Mia Jeffcoat; grandparents Kimberly and George “Sonny” Pierce and step-grandmother Olga Martini and other relatives.
Visitation will be held 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday at Beatty-Rich Funeral Home in Madison. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Yukon.
Obituaries have been released for the other three students:
• A celebration of life will be held at a later date for Brady Hunker of Herminie. Arrangements are being handled by Joseph W. Nickels Funeral Home in Herminie.
Hunker’s obituary said he dreamed of becoming a mechanic and had a passion for riding dirt bikes and quads.
In addition to his mother Jillian Madigan, he is survived by grandmother Darlene Madigan; grandparents Robert “Bo” and Ann Hunker; aunts Natalie Madigan and Jodie Madigan as well as other relatives. He was preceded in death by his father Dennis Hunker and grandfather Craig Madigan.
• Visitation for Kylee Korber of Ruffs Dale will be held 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Beatty-Rich Funeral Home in Madison. A private funeral service will be held Friday.
Her obituary described her as a vibrant, fun-loving girl who lived to swim, ride her bicycle and quad, hunt, make crafts and collect rocks. She worked as a cashier at the Youngwood Shop ‘n Save.
She is survived by parents Mike Korber and Nicole Hedrick, brothers Jacob Korber and Kain Korber, grandparents Terry and Diane Korber, Sandy and Ernie Heide and Gene and Marlene Hedrick, as well as other relatives and her pets Chip and Piggy.
• Visitation for Rocco Zugai of West Newton will be held 1-3 and 5-7 p.m. Thursday at William Snyder Funeral Home, Irwin. A blessing service will be private.
His obituary described him as an accomplished wrestler who loved cars, dirt bikes and anything with a motor. He is survived by parents Jason and Staci Zugai, sister Mia Zugai, grandmother Linda Zugai and Bill and Cindy Bair and other relatives and a girlfriend.
