Jacinta Stevens, a former Peabody High School student, died after her SUV went off the Parkway East into the Mon River on Thursday, leaving behind a grieving community in Pittsburgh.Friends described Stevens as a mother, an encouraging friend and a model who was making her mark in the city.”She just had so much to give,” said Tony Bazemore Jr., a friend who modeled alongside Stevens.The 31-year-old Stevens was remembered through photos shared by a close friend, depicting her as a fun and kind individual. She played volleyball at Peabody, and a friend shared a photo of their 2010 championship team.Those who knew Stevens well said she had been following her modeling dreams in the years since. “She was very nice. She was very cool. And she just liked to have fun,” Bazemore said.Bazemore recalled Stevens as “a very funny individual.””It was a fun time with her. And it’s just sad, because you never know when it’s going to be your last time seeing someone,” he said.Bazemore expressed his heartbreak for Stevens’ family upon hearing the news of her death despite efforts to save her.”I’m sincerely sorry for something like that to happen, and it’s just sad for it at the start of the year, and she had such a promising future. She was very talented. So it’s just sad to see all that cut short, because it’s someone I think that could have went really, really far in her profession,” he said.Stevens leaves behind many family members in Pittsburgh, including her mom, grandmother and children. Funeral arrangements have not been released.”I would want to say to her family, you have my sincerest condolences. She was a very amazing person,” Bazemore said. “And to the other people that I worked with that also worked with her, my heart’s with you. Hopefully, everyone that’s been hurt by this situation, we could get through this together. Hopefully, everyone can move forward. I know this is going to be a tough time, but I just want to say my prayers are with everybody.”
PITTSBURGH —
Jacinta Stevens, a former Peabody High School student, died after her SUV went off the Parkway East into the Mon River on Thursday, leaving behind a grieving community in Pittsburgh.
Friends described Stevens as a mother, an encouraging friend and a model who was making her mark in the city.
“She just had so much to give,” said Tony Bazemore Jr., a friend who modeled alongside Stevens.
The 31-year-old Stevens was remembered through photos shared by a close friend, depicting her as a fun and kind individual. She played volleyball at Peabody, and a friend shared a photo of their 2010 championship team.
Those who knew Stevens well said she had been following her modeling dreams in the years since.
“She was very nice. She was very cool. And she just liked to have fun,” Bazemore said.
Bazemore recalled Stevens as “a very funny individual.”
“It was a fun time with her. And it’s just sad, because you never know when it’s going to be your last time seeing someone,” he said.
Bazemore expressed his heartbreak for Stevens’ family upon hearing the news of her death despite efforts to save her.
“I’m sincerely sorry for something like that to happen, and it’s just sad for it at the start of the year, and she had such a promising future. She was very talented. So it’s just sad to see all that cut short, because it’s someone I think that could have went really, really far in her profession,” he said.
Stevens leaves behind many family members in Pittsburgh, including her mom, grandmother and children. Funeral arrangements have not been released.
“I would want to say to her family, you have my sincerest condolences. She was a very amazing person,” Bazemore said. “And to the other people that I worked with that also worked with her, my heart’s with you. Hopefully, everyone that’s been hurt by this situation, we could get through this together. Hopefully, everyone can move forward. I know this is going to be a tough time, but I just want to say my prayers are with everybody.”