ROCHESTER N.Y. -- It's hard to forget a strong first impression. For owners of Juan and Maria's Empanada Stop, they'll never forget the first time they met Brian Daege.

“We had interviewed him and hired him on the spot. He just impressed me with great customer service abilities,” said Juan Contreras. “I don’t think we’ve ever been hit this close before with a case of a drunk driver."

Daege, a Rochester resident, was only 27 when he was struck and killed by vehicle on Atlantic Avenue Monday morning.

Michael Roderiques, 27, of Irondequoit, is charged with manslaughter and driving while intoxicated.

“The danger that we are honing, we all go out every day with cars and we hope to come back home. Well, it wasn’t the case with Brian,” said Juan, who added that Brian would often take the bus and walked home.

“Besides Maria, over the years, he’s the only one that has been able to keep the line going, when we are doing over a thousand empanadas in one day,” Contreras said.

Juan says life is short, and Brian worked effortlessly around the clock.

“He had to keep both stores supplied and it was not easy.”

Both Juan and Maria, torn over the loss, say Daege was more than just an employee, he was like family.

“If there is anything that we can do for the family, we would love to be able to do that,” added Juan.