FRUITPORT, Mich. — A West Michigan family, mourning the loss of a young man who they say was loving, energetic and always looking to create.
"He was always building something. Always had his mind going," said Dan Heil.
Dan's son, 21-year-old Nicolas Heil, died Wednesday night after investigators say he was hit by a vehicle while jogging alongside KL Avenue near the Copper Beech Townhomes in Kalamazoo County.
"His passion for life was just unbelievable," said Mindy Kraus, Heil's Aunt. "He would befriend anybody. He would be so comfortable, just walk up to a group of people, he really was. He'd be like I've got five friends and he'd make everybody so comfortable. He was kind-hearted to his nieces and nephews, young and old, just the respect for people, respect for life."
Relatives say Heil was living the in the Kalamazoo area after securing an internship for the summer. He was a junior at Western Michigan University, studying engineering.
"He was so good to me," said Holly Heil, Nicolas's mother. "Always extremely helpful. I'd come home from work late at night and he'd have a bonfire started, we'd sit around."
Nicolas was the third of four children in the family, all of whom are trying to cope with the unthinkable.
"We've been sitting here since two in the morning because that's when the police officer came to the door and told us," said Dan Heil. "We haven't been able to do anything but stare out the windows."
Investigators say the driver of the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run was located and arrested after a relative of the driver called authorities a few hours after the deadly crash.
"Ultimately at the end of a conversation with the suspect driver, there was an arrest made and the suspect was brought in for a test, alcohol test," said Sheriff Richard Fuller of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Department. "The results of that are pending. So that’s why the suspect has been released at this time."
"We just know he was hit by somebody swerving down the road, but we don't know, that's all we know," said Dan Heil.
The family, also remembering Nicolas as an athlete, finding success running track in high school, along with a passion for his dirt bike.
"He loved spending time with his family," said Holly Heil. "More than anything that's what he loved."
"We're all just... I don't know," said Dan Heil. "We have to move on but I don't know, it's not going to be easy. It's not going to be easy because he was just the life of the party."
"I just hope he knows home much he was loved," said Dan Heil.
"And how much he's going to be missed," said Holly Heil.
The 21-year-old loved to ride his dirt bike, spend time with his family and friends and create things. His projects are now scattered throughout his parent's home, which Dan Heil says are hard to look at right now.
"I just wish he could've seen the rest of his life" said Dan Heil. "I would give anything to trade my life for his."
Nic's family is still trying to find peace in all of this and a way to deal with their pain. As for the person involved in the hit and run, the family says it's too soon to talk about forgiveness, but know the person will have to live with this for the rest of their lives, as well.
