$116,000 raised in fundraising drive for crash victim’s family
The community continues to rally around the family of 31-year-old Khushal Rana, who died Oct. 21 after being hit by an SUV while walking to a bus stop on Gorge Road West.
An online fundraising page set up to help his family — a fouryear-old son and a wife pregnant with twins — had reached $116,000 by Friday, said Kirn Bawa of Sizzling Tandoor, where Rana was a chef. People have dropped off donations at the restaurant’s three locations, and made calls of condolence.
Local businesses and Victoria’s Sikh temple have also contributed, Bawa said. “People have been amazing.”
Rana was struck by an SUV as he made his way to work about 11:30 a.m. on Oct. 18. He had just celebrated his son’s fourth birthday that morning. He had one leg amputated and was in a coma for several days before he died last Saturday in hospital.
The vehicle that struck Rana went off the road and onto the sidewalk and into a nearby park, where it hit a tree before stopping.
The 25-year-old driver was taken to hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries.
Police have not determined what caused the vehicle to go off the road.
Members of the restaurant staff have been doing their best to cope with their grief, Bawa said.
Rana’s wife is hoping her mother will be able to visit from India, and Bawa is optimistic that visa and passport requirements can be dealt with to make it possible.