Kaushik Rana was walking to the bus stop Wednesday after celebrating his son’s fourth birthday when he was struck by a vehicle on Gorge Road West.
The crash left the 31-year-old in a coma and in critical condition at the Victoria General Hospital. One of his legs has been amputated and doctors are trying to save the other leg, said Kirn Bawa, general manager for Sizzling Tandoor, where Rana worked as a chef.
Bawa has set up a fundraiser for the family since Rana, who moved to Canada from India, is the sole breadwinner.
His wife, who speaks little English, is pregnant with twins and stays home to care for their son.
On Wednesday morning, Rana had asked to come into work a few hours late because he wanted to celebrate his son’s birthday with cake and a blessing, Bawa said.
When Rana didn’t show up in the afternoon, staff began to worry.
One staff member contacted his former boss in Surrey, who talked to Rana’s wife. She thought he was at work. When staff heard media reports that a pedestrian had been struck on Gorge Road West, not far from Rana’s home, they feared it was him.
Rana was walking to the bus stop about 11:30 a.m. when he was struck by an eastbound Chevrolet Suburban. The SUV continued into a nearby park, hit a tree and came to rest in the bushes.
The 25-year-old driver was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Saanich police are still investigating what caused the crash.
Rana’s family recently moved to Victoria from Surrey. He has only been working at Sizzling Tandoor for two months, but staff were quick to donate in support of the family, Bawa said.
“Everyone is really trying to pitch in and help,” she said.
Bawa and her parents, who are Sikh, have been collecting donations from worshippers at the Sikh temple.
Rana mostly kept to himself in the kitchen, Bawa said, but she described him as patient, kind and well-liked by colleagues.
Rana’s wife is staying with a friend and her mother is flying from India to be with her, Bawa said.
The fact that Rana is in hospital over Diwali, India’s festival of lights, is especially difficult for the family, she said. The holiday is observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists and celebrates the triumph of good over evil.
“It’s kind of like our Christmas,” she said.
“So it’s a really tough time for sure.”
