Parents of Cody Joss grieve 2nd Inkster Boulevard hit-and-run death
'My heart goes out to them,' Sherri Duka says of Chris Nero's family
The death of Chris Nero, who was hit by a vehicle on Inkster Boulevard over the weekend, has brought back painful memories for the parents of another Winnipeg man who died in a similar hit and run on the same street late last year.
Nero, 22, was found unconscious near Inkster Boulevard and Bunting Street around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition, but he later died.
News of Nero's death shocked and saddened the parents of Cody Joss. Police believe the 21-year-old was struck by a dark-coloured truck while he was crossing Inkster near McGregor Street on Dec. 20, 2014.
Joss's mother, Sherri Duka, told CBC News she and her husband, Dwayne Duka, were driving home early Sunday morning when they saw police tape on Inkster and Bunting.
"We had seen it all blocked off and I said to Dwayne, 'Oh, I hope it wasn't another hit and run.' And then the next morning we found out that it was," she said.
No suspect has been identified in either case to date.
Sherri and Dwayne Duka, along with Joss's grandmother, visited a makeshift memorial on Monday evening near the intersection where the collision happened.
- Winnipeg pedestrian, 21, dead after hit and run
- 'My focus is on finding who did this,' says mom of hit-and-run victim
Duka said a friend of hers, whose nephew was best friends with Nero, asked her if she has any advice for Nero's family.
She said she plans to reach out to the family soon, but she doesn't quite know what to say yet.
"It's just … minute by minute. It's just all overwhelming. The shock, just very hard," she said.
"My heart goes out to them. He was only a year older than Cody."
'Just be aware'
Duka said she believes the problem is not limited to Inkster Boulevard.
There are too many hit and runs everywhere, she said, with drivers not slowing down and pedestrians not being aware of their surroundings.
Joss was just a few steps away from the curb when he was hit, his mother said.
"Just be aware of your surroundings," she said. "If you've got to wait two lights until there's no cars in sight to cross, then do it."
Sherri Duka said the high school that Joss graduated from, Maples Collegiate, has approached the family about setting up a scholarship in his name.
A Bud, spud and steak event is being organized for May 22 to raise money for the scholarship.
Duka said she's been getting a lot of support so far.