A grieving father's request on behalf of his son: Give a flower to your bus driver
The father of a child killed last week in a bus accident in Horseshoe Bay is sharing a request with the public: Show a little kindness to your bus driver.
Four-year-old Leonardo Machado, who died last Wednesday when a bus hopped the curb and struck him, loved buses and trains, his father Clineu wrote in an online tribute this week. Now, with local transit operators 'devastated' by the accident, Leonardo would want to offer them comfort, Clineu wrote.
Writing in his son Leonardo's voice, Clineu wrote: 'Since I was born my parents always use buses to go everywhere in this city with my stroller along, and I started falling in love with buses and SkyTrains … They became my best friends and they brought me everywhere around this beautiful city.'
He urged people to 'bring a flower' for bus drivers, ask their names and how they're doing, and 'buy them a coffee … because they are my heroes!' Clineu wrote. 'If not a bus driver, maybe a stranger on the street who needs a nice smile or hello.'
'My friends who drove me throughout the city are devastated and impacted by what happened with me, and I want to thank them for all the enjoyment they provided me, and put love and confidence into their hands that they drive all of us safely and comfortable!'
West Vancouver police said the crash happened at about 3:30 p.m. on May 28 when a TransLink bus jumped the curb just outside the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal, pinning three people underneath, including Leonardo and his mother Silvana. Firefighters and paramedics provided emergency care, but Leonardo died at the scene.
The grieving father's request exemplifies his 'kind-hearted' nature, said A.J. Caridi, who along with his wife owns AJ's Brooklyn Pizza Joint in East Vancouver, where Clineu has worked as a pizza chef for the past four years. 'That's who he is.'
'Since this unfathomable tragedy occurred, he's just not a blame person, you know,' Caridi said. 'As he said to my wife, 'Can we learn from this? Can we take a terrible tragedy and improve other lives?''
'Love and care and kindness,' Caridi said. 'Maybe, especially given this day and time, maybe it's a thing for all of us to remember, right?'
Clineu's message was posted on the webpage of a GoFundMe online fundraiser for the Machado family, organized by Caridi's wife, Theresa Morrison. As of Tuesday, the webpage had raised more than $120,000 to support the family with funeral, transportation, and medical costs. Clineu also asked people to pray for Silvana.
Following the accident, Silvana was taken to Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver with life-threatening injuries. Police said that another woman, believed to be a family friend, was taken to the same hospital and was in stable condition.
An update this week on the GoFundMe page said Silvana is now in stable condition at Vancouver General Hospital, and 'has received incredible care. But her kidneys and her physical trauma remain a concern.'
In an emailed statement, TransLink said: 'Our deepest condolences go out to the Machado family and all those affected by the tragic loss near the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal last week. We are utterly heartbroken by this tragedy.'
'Through his father's words, shared on the GoFundMe, we have now learned that the young victim had a deep love for transit. He adored riding the bus and learning about the system,' said the transit authority's statement. 'TransLink wants to acknowledge and express our appreciation of the family's thoughtful request to show kindness to transit operators during this time.'
The incident is under investigation. West Vancouver police spokesperson Sgt. Chris Bigland said no further updates were available Tuesday while the police are 'prioritizing the privacy and well-being of the victims and the integrity of the investigation.'
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Fundraiser launched for family of four-year-old boy killed in Horseshoe Bay bus accident
Witness describes scene of chaos after women and child hit in Horseshoe Bay bus accident
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