Gregory Nathan Girgis had just finished work and was on his way to the gym just before midnight on Canada Day when he was hit by the driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Girgis, 26, suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on the spot at University Avenue and Wellington Street, where seven others were injured.
The driver of the jeep, Nitin Thakur, who allegedly collided with two other cars and another pedestrian, was arrested by the police.
“It wasn’t an accident… you can’t call it an accident,” said Girgis’ mother, Avril Higginson. “My son died, Gregory died, he was taken away from us all… I’m more than heartbroken.”
Police said Thakur, 26, passed through a red light at the crossroads.
Gregory’s father, Atef Girgis, told Global News: “He was well-liked by his friends, he was an honest person and (he) would help anyone.”
Girgis’s youngest son, Victor, returned home from work early Saturday morning when he saw Toronto police officers waiting at the door. He broke the terrible news. “I haven’t slept since then,” said his mother.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said his father. “We’re going to miss him.”
About 100 people stopped at the crash site, where Girgis’ family shed tears and told stories about the man they had lost. They remembered him as a kind, hardworking and courageous young man.
The scene of Friday night’s devastation has been changed, with flowers and a memorial erected on Saturday to replace the debris that came before.
At one point, Girgis’ father knelt down, picking up the sand left there by the authorities – remembering where his son had died.
“His spirit is a very fun-loving soul; he loved to travel,” said his older sister, Sarah Munoz. “I would lead the way and then he would follow me on my world travels, but then would have left me behind and traveled to far more countries than me – a globetrotter at heart.”
The driver, Thakur, will be produced in the court on Saturday. He faces six charges, including impaired operation causing death, death by dangerous driving and impaired operation causing bodily harm.
For a family whose lives have been ruined by this incident, driving someone’s vehicle under the influence of alcohol is unimaginable.
“You have an Uber, you have taxis, call a friend, have a designated driver,” Higginson said. “It’s sad, he shouldn’t have gone because of the negligence of a drunk driver.”
Gregory’s father, like the rest of his family, is at a loss.
“I don’t know, I don’t know how I feel. People make huge mistakes and there’s always someone to pay the price for,” Atef Girgis said. “I don’t believe in revenge, it’s just a It was a fool who made the wrong decision… It’s sad, it’s sad.”
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