A man in his 40s died after stopping to help a stranded driver on a major roadway in Calgary’s northwest on the evening of Nov. 27.
The man was driving north on Crowchild Trail near Fifth Avenue N.W at around 8 p.m. when he stopped to assist the driver of a broken-down vehicle in the right lane, Calgary police said in a Nov. 28
news release. As he exited his vehicle, the car unexpectedly rolled backward, fatally pinning him underneath.
He died at the scene.
“An absolutely tragic situation that has impacted so many, including witnesses and first responders,” Calgary police Chief Mark Neufeld said in a social media
post. “Sending heartfelt condolences to this gentleman’s family and friends.”
The driver has been identified as Khalid Farroq, “a beloved husband, father, and friend,” and the sole provider for his wife and five children, according to a GoFundMe
page set up to support his family.
When the accident occurred, Farooq was with his 10-year-old son, whom he had just picked up from a soccer game, said friend Aryan Sadat, organizer of the campaign. Farooq’s other children range in age from 2 to 14.
“His love for his family was unmatched, and he was always there for others, offering a helping hand no matter the time of day or night,” wrote Sadat. “Helping others was not just something Khalid did—it was his passion, and it ultimately cost him his life.”
The campaign had raised $61,593 as of press time, surpassing its initial goal of $45,000. All donations will be given to Farooq’s wife, Freba Sayed Ahmad, according to the organizer.
Calgary police told The Epoch Times they continue to investigate the case.
Farooq was not the only one to die in a traffic accident that day. An hour earlier, a pedestrian was killed in the city’s southwest after being struck twice.
The pedestrian, a man in his 50s, was crossing Elbow Drive S.W. through a marked crosswalk when he was struck by an SUV travelling southbound, driven by a woman in her 80s, police said in the release.
As the woman pulled over to help the man, another vehicle travelling southbound hit him. The second vehicle was driven by a woman in her 70s, police said.
The pedestrian died from his injuries. Both drivers were uninjured and remained at the scene.
Police said that neither speed, alcohol, nor drugs are considered factors in either collision.
The release also didn’t mention the weather conditions as being a factor, but on the
weekend of Nov. 23, some areas of Calgary recorded up to 24 centimetres of snow. The snow has since cleared from major roads, but continues to cover many parts of the city.
