Family and friends remember hit-and-run victim
Kevin Walsh was a larger than life personality that lived life to the fullest, his friends say.
But, that life came to an abrupt end on July 19, when Walsh, his wife, and their two friends were struck by a passing motorist on a quiet street in Eugenia, Ont.
“Because he had such an outsized impact on so many people in his life, the impact of the news of his death was more shocking than it would have been for most. That’s because he was so involved in so many people’s lives, at all times,” says Walsh’s friend, Shiri Pasternak.
Pasternak, who has known Walsh for most of his life, says the hit-and-run that claimed his life and severely injured his wife and two friends is still hard to fathom. The group was simply out for a walk in the quiet community, when they were hit from behind by a vehicle that then allegedly drove away, without calling for help.
“It was a series of small decisions, as sometimes these senseless deaths seem to be, that led them to decide to take a ten minute walk after dinner, to get some fresh air, before moving onto dessert,” says Pasternak.
Friend Pauline Craig suffered multiple fractures and a punctured lung in the crash. Mike Reid suffered a serious concussion, and Walsh’s wife, Lisa Pottier, was also injured. Fundraising efforts for all four victims have raised a combined $250,000.
“In the midst of this deep and intense grief, there’s also been an incredible outpouring of love and celebration of Kevin’s life,” says Pasternak.
A 27-year-old from Southgate, Ont. has been charged with several offences in relation to the crash, including careless driving causing death, and failing to stop at an accident causing death.
Charges aside, Pasternak’s thoughts are with Walsh’s wife, Lisa, and their two young girls, and the lives of so many that have been changed forever by this tragedy.
“He was doing what he loved, with people that he loved,” says Pasternak.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.