Community Mourns Del. Couple Killed In Crash - Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

Friends Say Del. Couple Killed In Crash Spent Lives Fighting For People With Disabilities

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NEW CASTLE COUNTY, Del. -

A community is mourning the loss of a New Castle County, Delaware couple who spent their own lives fighting for people with disabilities.

Matthew and Brenda Petki could have lived their lives as victims, as both were born with developmental disabilities, but the couple chose otherwise.

"There was no feeling sorry for themselves," Mary Beth Limmina told FOX 29's Claudia Gomez.

"There was no, 'I have a disability so therefore the world owes me.' It was just the opposite of that, it truly was."

Their lives were ended Sunday night when the car they were in collided with a big rig. Police say their car turned in front of the big rig after leaving a Kennett Township restaurant.

The accident killed them instantly.

The couple paved the way for others like them. Both worked at Bank of America ion Wilmington for years and Brenda was the first employee hired with an intellectual disability.

Friends say because of her, the company now has more than 200 people with disabilities.

The couple played an active role at the Arc of Delaware - an organization that helps provide housing and employment support for the disabled.

But friends say it was their normal everyday lives, not their disability, that they'll remember the most.

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