PA state trooper from Bristol who was killed in line of duty on I-95 remembered as dad, Truman coach

At work Pennsylvania State Trooper Martin Mack III suited up in his uniform each day as he patrolled and served Philadelphia.

But back home in Bucks County, he was known not so much for his trooper uniform, but as the assistant coach under the pads on the lacrosse field at Harry S Truman High School in Bristol Township. It was just one of his many roles serving the community beyond his law enforcement career.

Mack was a husband and father of two little girls. He served in the Pennsylvania National Guard. He played rugby and was an Eagles fan. And added the title of assistant coach in recent years at Truman.

“He was an awesome addition to our family. He would work long hours and still show up for the players. The countless hours he has dedicated to our players has left a huge imprint on all of them,” said Truman coach Mike Walczak.

“This was his first season away from us due to him having increased hours on the force as well as his commitment to the National Guard."

The 33-year-old trooper lost his life on Monday morning while on duty, responding to a pedestrian walking on Interstate 95. He and fellow Trooper Branden Sisca, along with the pedestrian Reyes Rivera Oliveras, 28, of Allentown, were struck and killed by a driver, who police said was going too fast for the road and is suspected of driving while under the influence.

The investigation was continuing Tuesday and a 21-year-old woman from Eagleville in Montgomery County has been charged. Jayana Tanae Webb, 21, was charged with third-degree murder, homicide by vehicle while under the influence and other related charges.

More:2 Pennsylvania state troopers, civilian killed in suspected DUI crash, police say

The deaths have left families in Philadelphia and its suburbs and law enforcement around the state devastated.

Mack, who was known as Marty, and his wife, Stephanie, were both Albright University graduates and bought their home in the borough in 2018. They have two young daughters.

“Trooper Mack lived a life of service, every day putting his life on the line to protect others," read a statement from Pennsylvania Reps. John Galloway, Tina Davis and Frank Farry. “He was just 33 years old and leaves behind a wife and two young children. Trooper Mack made the ultimate sacrifice, dying while trying to bring someone to safety. Once again we are reminded that our welfare depends on the courage and dedication of our law enforcement officers.

“Our prayers are with the Mack family during this terrible time.”

The pastor of St. Mark Parish in Bristol was with the family Monday evening.

The young trooper's body was escorted back to Bucks County from Philadelphia to a funeral home in Bristol Borough hours after the crash. As the caravan of police vehicles turned down Mill Street, people stood and watched quietly as the escort passed over a large American flag hung between two fire trucks, giving Mack a hero's salute.

"The town lost a great person and resident of the borough way too young, trying to help someone," said Borough Council president Ralph DiGuiseppe. "He put his life on the line. You could have heard a pin drop, that was how much respect there was for this officer and his family."

Mack joined the Pennsylvania State Police in November 2014 and graduated as a member of the 141st cadet class. He would spend his career with Patrol Section of Troop K, which covers Philadelphia.

Mack also found time to dedicate to the Harry S Truman High School lacrosse team as an assistant coach for four years at the Bristol Township school.

Mack saw the team practicing, introduced himself to the coach and said he would love to help out. He was a goaltender on his college team.

The next season, Mack was a coach for the team. He’d pad up and play with the kids at practice to give them experience. He was going to stay this season, but had to leave due to his commitment to the National Guard and police, according to Walczak.

Still, Walczak said Mack had an open invitation to come by and practice with the kids whenever he wanted.

“He’s part of our family, he’s always got a spot on the field,” he said. "... “Over the past couple of years, he made sure he was as involved as he possibly could be.”

Even when COVID-19 canceled the season last year, Mack didn't forget about the players. Walczak remembered Mack recording videos to all the seniors telling them, while it was not great that the season was canceled, that they always need to keep going, and that he would always be there for them.

Now, the team wants to honor Mack.

The coach said the players would like to get chinstraps for their helmets with a state trooper badge on it and a thin blue line on it.

“Our lacrosse program is a family, we love each other, we care about each other,” he said. “And for his wife Stephanie and his daughters, we're always going to be there for them.”

His own high school and college alma maters remembered him Monday, too.

"We are deeply saddened by the news of Marty Mack’s passing, Class of 2006. We know that Marty lived his life for the service of others," the online statement read from John E. Cooke, president ofMonsignor Bonner & Archbishop Prendergast Catholic High School in Drexel Hill. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Mack family as well as all the families affected by this tragic incident."

Mack studied history, sociology and criminology at Albright before graduating in 2011 and played on the college's lacrosse and rugby teams, according to the school. "We are stunned and heartbroken over such a senseless loss and are thinking about each of the victims' families," a statement read.

Mack still played rugby, according to social media, where teammates remembered him Monday.

Family friends set up a fundraiser to support his wife and children Monday. The gofundme page can be reached online.

Sisca had been a trooper since February 2021 and lived in Montgomery County with his wife, who is expecting their first child this summer. He was a volunteer fire chief in Trappe.

The Bucks County District Attorney's Office and law enforcement from around Bucks County posted tributes to the troopers online Monday. The crash was a painful reminder of the dangers of the job officers to each day, they said.

"Our hearts are broken this morning with the news that two brave Pennsylvania State Troopers were killed while doing their job to protect a citizen. Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every single day, and this is a tragic reminder of that sacrifice," the DA's Office statement read.

State Sen. Steve Santarsiero also offered his condolences for the families.

“The tragic loss of life is made that much harder here in Bucks County, where Trooper Mack had set down roots with his wife and two children in Bristol Borough. One of our finest, Trooper Mack was taken too soon at 33 years old, an active member of his community who dedicated himself to the service of others. Ronni and I offer our deepest condolences to the Mack family and will be keeping them in our prayers.”

For Walczak and his lacrosse high school players the loss was felt at Monday practice. They were thankful for their time with Mack, knowing that he had helped each of them.

In addition to a love for the sport, he brought with him understanding and caring that the kids responded to, the coach said.

“I think overall the message that he’s shown the players is that he truly did care about them,” Walczak said.

A gofundme site has also been set up to assist the Sisca family.

Staff writers Nur Adam and Peg Quann contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: PA State Trooper Martin Mack of Bristol remembered as dad, Truman coach