The parents of the ten-year-old boy who was hit and killed Wednesday say their son was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Chris and Eileen Zanko say Robbie loved computers, he loved playing on his Nintendo Wii, and he loved riding his bike with friends. Wednesday, Robbie Zanko was doing just that near his Fall Creek home on Lincoln Avenue. That's when his parents say he darted out into traffic before a pickup truck could stop.

"He was very loving. Very open," Eileen tells us.

"Very intelligent. Very curious. Very happy," Chris adds.

With some of their son's most favorite things laid out in front of them, the Zankos are remembering the precious time that they shared together.

"He loved Mario Brothers. He'd watch videos about it on YouTube. Then he would share all that stuff with us,” Eileen says.

"He'd watch the same video over and over and over and want us to be just as excited," Chris adds.

But, Wednesday night, it was their son's last moments that kept these parents from falling asleep.

"I heard the thud. I heard people yelling. I peeked out and I didn't see Robbie. I feared it was him and then I went out and saw his hat on the road," Chris says, his voice cracking.

"He was still just barely conscious and I said 'Robbie, Robbie, mommy’s here,’ Eileen says with tears in her eyes. “He blinked his eye."

Just feet from the road, Robbie's friends are doing their best to remember their buddy. Wednesday night, neighbors lit candles. A note from a little neighbor girl says Robbie is in her prayers.

"This game is coming out Sunday,” Eileen says holding an ad for another Mario Brothers game. “We put a copy on reserve. We're going to put this in with Robbie because he was counting down the days. He was so excited"

Thursday, as they prepare to say good-bye to their little boy, the Zankos can only hope others can learn from their loss.

"I hope parents teach their children to please be careful. Please don't just dart out into traffic,” Eileen says.

Eileen says Robbie blew her a kiss before he ran out the door Wednesday afternoon.

The Zankos say emergency crews did all they could. Robbie was airlifted to Luther Midelfort where he was pronounced dead.

Robbie's parents say he had autism and a mood disorder. They say to cope, they're focusing on the good times they had with their son; not what they could've or would've done differently.

Robbie's grandfather has home-schooled him for the past year. But, counselors were at Fall Creek Elementary School Thursday to help Robbie's former classmates. His teachers say it was a hard day for them, too. His principal says some of the students were with Robbie Wednesday afternoon when the truck hit him.

"The children are dealing with this in different ways. Some are eager to talk to the counselors we have available. We have others who wanted to talk about it and then get on with their normal routine,” says Gayle Holte, principal at Fall Creek Elementary School. "For me, the one thing I will really remember is his smile. It was an infectious smile."

I'll remember how "when he'd learn something new, he was so eager to share it with everybody and just his sense of humor more than anything," says Tricia Wathke, Robbie's 3rd grade teacher.

The Fall Creek Police Department is still investigating the crash.

Robbie's visitation is scheduled for this Sunday (11/15) from 2-5 p.m. at Saint Raymond of Penafort church on Highway 53, south of Brackett. His funeral will be Monday (11/16) at the same church at 11 a.m.
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STORY FROM WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11

A 10-year-old boy died after a pickup truck hit him. Fall Creek Police say he was hit around four Wednesday afternoon while riding his bike on Highway 12 in Fall Creek.

People we talked to in the neighborhood say he was out on his bike a lot, like many other kids in Fall Creek. Now, many people are remembering a child full of joy and energy.

"He was my best friend. We liked to ride bikes together," says Greta Schreiner.

Greta Schreiner grew up just down the block from her 10-year-old friend. Her big brother heard the crash.

"I didn't hear tire squeals or anything just heard a big scream probably like three people yelling his name and looked over and they're running out to the road," says Greg Schreiner.

Emergency crews closed down Highway 12 through Fall Creek while a helicopter landed to take the boy to the hospital but officers say he was pronounced dead when they arrived.

Cathy Schreiner, Greta's mom, says her thoughts are with the family and says it's scary because the road is always busy.

"It's very busy. We have semi-trucks, cars and sometimes you can tell they go faster than 30," says Cathy Schreiner.

Another person says the sidewalks are often full of kids, on bikes and playing.

"I just think all of Fall Creek, it's a safe place where kids are outside and active and so it's pretty normal to see them biking past," says Dr. Cindy Mickelson.

It's a crash that has one mom tearing up just thinking about the danger on the road.

"It's hard, of course. It's a child. It could have any one of ours," says Cathy Schreiner.

Police are not releasing the name of the boy as of Wednesday night and there's no word on the driver at this time either. Police also say there may be counseling services for students at Fall Creek Schools Thursday.

Officers say the preliminary investigation indicates the truck was traveling west on Lincoln Ave and hit the 10-year-old boy on a bicycle as he attempted to cross the street.

The 10-year-old was airlifted to Luther Midelfort in Eau Claire, where he was pronounced dead.