Families destroyed in senseless drunk driving death
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At least two families have been destroyed and untold numbers of people are mourning after an alleged drunk driver killed a young man in downtown Toronto.
The senseless tragedy just before midnight on Friday killed Gregory Nathan Girgis, 26, as he walked to the gym after his shift at a nearby Jack Astor’s restaurant.
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Another pedestrian, 32, was also badly hurt and remains in hospital.
Three cars were involved in the smash-up at University Ave. and Wellington St. and various drivers and passengers were also taken to hospital as Friday night melted into Saturday morning.
Almost immediately, a memorial to the dead man sprang up at the scene of the accident.
On Saturday, a large photo of a smiling Greg Girgis was placed on an easel near the place where he died, and flowers and other tributes have been left there by family and friends.
His cousin, Mina Tawadrous, said Sunday afternoon that people continued to show up at the accident site to share memories and offer condolences to the family.
“He was just walking. Just walking along,” said Tawadrous.
“And he’s 26. He has brothers and sisters, he’s an uncle — I think his family are in shock, and they will be for many more days to come.”
Girgis’ parents and his older brother, Kevin, younger brother, Victor, and older sister, Sarra Munoz, were at the impromptu memorial site on Saturday as family members bravely spoke to media and were embraced by loved ones.
Both Girgis’ distraught and weeping mother, Avril Higginson, and his devastated father, Atef Girgis, spoke of their loss with disbelief.
“We’re in shock. I still cannot believe it,” Atef Girgis told the Toronto Sun’s Jack Boland on Saturday.
“I’ll ask God to give us the strength to cope with this.”
Girgis was praised by those who knew him for his infectious laugh, sincerity and his kind heart. He was described as a hardworking kid who would help anyone.
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No doubt, the family of another young man is also in shock after this weekend’s senseless tragedy — the family of Nitan Thakur.
Also 26, Thakur has been arrested and charged with impaired driving causing death and bodily harm in this incident.
Thakur faces six charges, which also include over-80 operation causing death and bodily harm and dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm.
He has been accused of driving his 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee through a red light on Wellington Ave. and colliding with two cars travelling north on University Ave.
In the resulting vehicular melee, the pedestrians were struck and Girgis died. Seven people were sent to hospital.
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