PERKIOMEN TWP., Pa (KYW Newsradio) — Thousands gathered at Perkiomen Valley High School for the funeral of Pennsylvania State Trooper Branden Sisca, who was killed by an alleged drunk driver in March, along with Trooper Martin Mack and another man they were helping on the shoulder of I-95 in South Philadelphia.
Sisca graduated from Perkiomen Valley in 2010. He was also chief of the Trappe Borough volunteer fire company.
People from the community, even those who didn’t know Sisca personally, said they were drawn to the funeral to show support for the family he left behind.
“He was an officer. He was a fire chief, and you just want to come and pay your respects,” said Aimee Holtz of Collegeville.
She said she didn’t know Sisca personally, but she was distraught on behalf of his family.
“I mean, how can you not feel sad? His wife is going to have a child, and he's not going to be able to be there for it. That to me, as a mother, that's heartbreaking — that that baby won't get to have daddy,” Holtz said.
Bill Melville of Schwenksville said his sons went to school with Sisca.
“It hits home. It's very scary,” Melville said, adding that the outpouring of support was amazing.
“I've been here for an hour and a half or so, just to try to get here, and the roads are all blocked and closed. That's crazy. And the number of people that are here, it's unbelievable. Absolutely. I'd never seen so many police in my entire life, or firefighters. Unreal.”
Mike Roynsn of Skipback found the scene to be impressive, as well.
“There's a giant flag that’s suspended between two fire trucks that all the cars are passing through immediately before turning into the high school parking lot.”
Jonathan Dubost, president of 11 Bravo Motorcycle Club, said he knew Sisca when he was Trappe fire chief. The club meets at the firehouse, he said, and Sisca was a big supporter.
“I'm overwhelmed by [the crowd], the motorcycles — there’s cars just lined up, people waving their flags and wanting to be a part of such a horrific, sad day,” he said.