Widow of pedestrian struck by SUV in Saanich gives birth to twin boys
The widow of the man who was fatally struck by a vehicle in Saanich last month has given birth to healthy twin boys.
Meena Devi, 27, had a caesarean section at Victoria General Hospital Monday, giving her four-yearold son, Ankush, two baby brothers, who have yet to be named.
But the twins will never know their father, Khushal Rana, who died on Oct. 21, three days after he was hit by an SUV while walking along Gorge Road West. Devi, who is from India and speaks little English, faces the challenge of raising three children in a city where she has no family.
“I’m sure she is missing him a lot, but she’s not saying anything. She’s happy that the babies are healthy,” said Kamlesh Singh, a friend with whom Devi and Ankush are staying.
On Monday afternoon, Singh planned to pick up Ankush from school and introduce him to the additions to the family. “He’s excited,” she said.
Singh and family friends have been trying to arrange for Devi’s mother to come to Victoria to support her daughter. Her mother, who lives in India, has obtained a passport, but visa arrangements are still being made.
Rana, 31, and his family had been in Victoria for only two months when the crash happened. Rana had just celebrated his son’s fourth birthday and was walking to the bus stop on his way to work at the Sizzling Tandoor restaurant at Uptown.
A GoFundMe campaign for the family has raised more than $125,000.
“It’s too bad, (the twins) are going to miss their dad,” said Narpinder Bawa, an owner of Sizzling Tandoor.
“But everyone in Victoria has helped, everyone opened their hearts.”
The family moved to Victoria from Surrey, where Rana worked as a chef.
Saanich police have not yet said what caused the SUV to veer off the road, hit Rana and come to rest in bushes.
“The crash investigators are still compiling all the information they need to complete the report,” said Saanich police spokesman Sgt. Jereme Leslie, who added such investigations can take months.
No charges have been laid against the 25-year-old woman driving the SUV.