Former St. Paul man killed in car accident in Virginia

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KMSP) - A former St. Paul man was killed in a car accident in Virginia Wednesday afternoon.

He leaves behind a wife and a 5-month-old son.

29-year-old Richard Machen was a former Marine and former manager at Sea Life Aquarium at Mall of America.

Many who knew Richard are stunned.

“To see that happen to somebody is just really heartbreaking to me.” Ryan O’Brien said.

“It's just one of those things, it doesn't seem real… He was too young.” O’Brien said.

Machen moved to Virginia two years ago with his wife Katie for a new job, the two got married in 2011 in St. Paul.

“She was super happy and super excited and loved talking about him.” One of Katie’s friends said.

“He was great, he made everyone laugh… He was so positive.” Kelsey Anfang said.

While Machen’s wife and friends grieve, they want to know more about how and why he crashed into a Montgomery County bridge. Investigators in Virginia are working to put together the pieces.

“He drifted lanes and he hit a pillar underneath a bridge. They're currently investigating whether he was alive on impact because they're suggesting there's evidence he was not.” One friend said.

Machen was wearing a seatbelt and the crash remains under investigation.

Former co-workers of Machen created a GoFundMe to help his wife Katie and 5-month-old son.