PITTSBURGH — A runner who collapsed at the EQT Pittsburgh 10 Miler race in Pittsburgh Sunday morning and later died is being remembered by family and friends.
According to the medical examiner, 32-year-old Michael Kovacic collapsed at 10 a.m. and was pronounced dead at 10:35 a.m.
According to UPMC, Kovacic was treated within seconds by physicians and EMS. He was transported to UPMC Presbyterian where he was pronounced dead.
Kovacic, of Cranberry Township, is a married father of two. His parents told Channel 11 News he won’t be forgotten.
“Go home tonight and kiss you kids and love them. It doesn’t matter whether they’re 4 or 40 -- they’re always your babies,” Michael Kovacic’s mother, Lynn Kovacic, said.
Michael, a North Allegheny graduate, met his wife, Traci, in Colorado. They have a 3-year-old daughter and 5-month-old son.
“He really is just the kind of guy that every guy should try to be,” Traci Kovacic said. “He was caring and loving and would be the first person to step up in any sort of situation.”
People have come from all over the country to help the grieving family.
“We were a very happy family and a very happy couple,” Traci Kovacic said. “I’m going to make sure his kids know everything about him.”
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner says the cause of death is unknown. Toxicology and histology testing could take 3 to 5 months.
"He didn't want anybody crying over him. He wanted to go out with a big party and we're going to try and do that,” Michael’s father, Joe Kovacic, said.
Viewings for Kovacic will be Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Schellhaas and Sons Funeral Home in Wexford.
The funeral will be held at St. Catherine’s of Sweden on Friday.
The UPMC medical team treated a total of 23 runners at the race Sunday.
WPXI
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