Friends remember generosity, kindness of man killed in Parkway crash

PITTSBURGH — Friends are remembering the good Samaritan who was killed while trying to help a man whose car broke down on the Parkway East over the weekend.

Landen Jones' friends were not surprised to hear that he stopped to help a stranded driver because they said he always helped others.

"This literally couldn't have happened to a nicer person," said Catherine LeFrere, Jones' best friend who was going to spend time with him in Pittsburgh when she came here in March.

The 39-year-old fitness trainer and former actor and dancer stopped on the Parkway East to help a stranded driver Saturday afternoon.

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He took that driver, Jason Jackson, to get gas and brought him back to his car.  The two men were standing next to the car when they were either hit by another vehicle or jumped over the barrier to avoid being hit.

The two men fell down to Second Avenue and were hit and killed.

"You know, most people wouldn't have stopped and it wouldn't have been a question for Landon to stop, he was just so generous and so kind," LeFrere said. "It's just so truly tragic."

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Friends started a GoFundMe account for Landon's partner and family and wanted to raise $5,000, but in just one day, they're almost at $20,000.

Landen had only been in Pittsburgh for two years, but was active in his city neighborhood of Manchester and well loved by those who knew him. Just a few months before his 40th birthday, his friends are planning his funeral.

Police are still looking to interview witnesses from that day to piece together the details of what happened.

Cox Media Group