Tragic Loss of Hero Firefighter on FDR Drive

A Hero City firefighter, known for rescuing a woman in a wheelchair during a fire, lost his life in a moped accident on FDR Drive this Thursday. He was struck by a hit-and-run driver, compounding the tragedy of the day.

Matthew Goikochia, 31, had served as a firefighter for about three years and was riding a 2023 Yamaha motorcycle near East 25th Avenue in Manhattan. Sadly, as he lay injured on the pavement, another vehicle collided with him, and the driver fled the scene without stopping, according to police.

Emergency responders rushed Goikochia to Bellevue Hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries shortly after arriving.

Authorities have yet to apprehend the driver involved in the hit-and-run incident.

The FDNY released a statement expressing their deep sorrow over Goikochia’s untimely passing. “FDNY mourns the loss of firefighter Matthew Goikochia, who tragically passed away early Thursday morning,” the statement read.

He had joined the department in September 2022 and was recognized with the Thomas Wyley Medal in 2024 after rescuing an unconscious person from a fire in the Bronx.

The incident occurred during a destructive fire in the Morris Park area of the Bronx at around 1:15 a.m. on August 14, 2023. FDNY noted that despite the victim’s limited visibility, Goikochia swiftly worked to save her from a wheelchair, even as conditions deteriorated rapidly.

The department praised his “quick and decisive action” during that emergency, emphasizing the personal risk he took to ensure the safety of the victim.