A family is mourning the loss of a Bronx man who was killed last Friday after getting hit by a car while retrieving a baseball on I-84 in Orange County.

The family of Nicholas Barba says his car broke down on the interstate and, while waiting for AAA to arrive, he passed time by playing catch with his son. Barba's cousin says he went to chase a ball that got away and was killed while returning to his car.

Police say Barba was just feet away from the vehicle. His children, who are mostly in their teens, saw the incident. The driver who struck Barba did what he could until an ambulance arrived, the family says.

They add that Barba should not have been going after the ball in the first place, but they are now trying to reach out to others about the importance of being aware of your surroundings.

The family has not yet decided on a specific date for Barba's funeral.