NEW CASTLE, Pa. - New Castle is mourning the loss of a local sports enthusiast that many feel was a staple in the community.

53 year-old Mark Schaas was killed Thursday morning in a fiery crash along I-76.

If pictures speak a thousand words, the ones posted to Schaas Facebook page show a passion for everything sports.

"If there was a sporting event going on in Lawrence County, not just New Castle Mark Schaas was there. You know it meant something to him," said New Castle Basketball Coach and Assistant Principal Ralph Blundo.

Schass was an umpire, a referee, and a play-by-play announcer. Those touched be Schaas, better known to many "Schaasy" shared their condolences across social media. New Castle Hoops tweeted, "The Red Hurricane family is saddened and extends it's deepest sympathy to the family." Another tweeted, "you will forever be missed."

"I think the relationships really mattered to him, he made it a point to make sure he came up to see you if it wasn't a working situation. He would come up talk, say hello just wanted to talk high school sports and he knew more than everyone, he knew what was going on," said Blundo.

It was around 10:30 Thursday morning when Schaas life was cut short.

A five car pile-up on I-76, involved three semi-trucks. Schaas was killed there at the scene. His passenger and another driver were life-flighted and two others taken by medic to St. Elizabeth's Hospital.

"Traffic was stopped for the construction zone as other traffic was approaching traffic was stopping, just one semi failed to do so. Whether they were distracted by something, it's too early to say that," said Lt. Jerad Sutton with the State Highway Patrol.

Charges have not been filed. The State Highway Patrol is working to determine the speed and how many hours the semi-truck driver at the origin of the accident had been on the road.