Man charged with impaired driving after Andrea Christidis struck and killed at Western
Teen's family 'heartbroken,' her uncle says
Police have charged a 24-year-old London, Ont., man after a Western University student was struck by a car on campus last Wednesday.
Andrea Christidis, 18, of Scarborough, was critically injured in the crash and died in hospital on Friday.
Christidis began studying health sciences at Western University in September. According to police, she was walking down a sidewalk on campus when a car jumped the curb and hit her. Her uncle told reporters Sunday that Christidis had been headed back to her dorm after a study lab.
Christidis' uncle described his niece as a happy, compassionate woman who hoped to go into the medical field.
"She... was away at university on her first great adventure when her life was tragically cut short," her uncle Meni Rizakos said in a brief statement to media Sunday. "She was deeply loved [and] her beautiful smile, kind soul and infectious spirit will be missed."
Christidis graduated with honours from Toronto's Leaside High School in June, her uncle said.
Counselling available
"This is a terrible tragedy and Andrea's death saddens me deeply," Western University's president Amit Chakma said in a statement released Saturday. "I know that I speak for the entire Western community when I say that my heart goes out to her family and friends."
The statement also reminded students and faculty that counselling services are available on campus.
London Police have charged Jared Delong with dangerous driving causing bodily harm, impaired operation causing bodily harm, and having in excess of 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.