Eritrean community 'traumatized' after 2nd child hit and killed in crosswalk in just over a year

Community members from Winnipeg's Eritrean community are reeling after a four-year-old girl was hit and killed by a car on Monday barely a year after a little boy died the same way.

"This is justa disproportionate share of tragedies given the size of the community," saidAaron Mehzenta, a leader in Winnipeg's Eritrean community.

The girldiedand her mother was seriously injured afterthey were hit by a car while in a crosswalk at Isabel Street and Alexander Avenue on Monday.

"The father is in deep shock right now. He is grieving deeply," Mehzentasaid.

Mother asking for daughter

Mehzenta, who is also a chairperson withSt. Michael Eritrean Orthodox church,was one of manyvisiting the family in hospital.

"The mother doesn't seem to have known yet. Although I think they may have informed her already, but she seems not to be fully aware of what has happened. She is asking for her daughter constantly, 'Where's my daughter?'" he said.

Galila and her mother Genet werea block away from Dufferin elementary school, where they were headed to meet the girl's six-year-old brother for a lunch break.

The mother remains in critical butstable condition in hospitaland is expected to recover.

"She's still in pain. The injury is severe. From the waist down it's a huge injury, so she's expecting to undergo some surgery," Mehzentasaid.

2nd child to be killed

This is the second time in just over a year that a child fromthe Eritreancommunity has been hit and killed by a vehicle.

In February 2018, an eight-year-old boy namedSurafiel Musse Tesfamariamwas struck by a car when he and his mother were using a crosswalk in St. Vital. He died later in hospital.

Immigrants have been coming from Eritrea, a country in northeast Africa, for the last several decades, and now number about 3,000 in Winnipeg,Mehzentasaid.

"The community is very, very traumatized by this new incident in particular because of the circumstances under which this thing happened," he said.

Community supporting family

Before the tragedy, Mehzentasaid he had not met thefamily, which had only moved toWinnipeg last month after living in refugee camps for a decade.

"Just when they thought that they have come to a much safer place, where their lives could turn positively, this tragedy happens," he said.

"They were just in the process of resettling themselves, taking some language classes, and they had yet to start a job."

Mehzentasaid the hospital has been full of supporters.

"When I left earlier this afternoon, I left a whole bunch of people with them. There's the family that sponsored them. There's another family who is related to them. But the entire community is with them right now," he said.

He said they're looking at holding a memorial service for the little girl, along with arranging fundraising for the father, wife and their son.

"Our community has always come very strong to support families who find themselves in these traumatic situations. Time after time we always get together and assist the families to cope with their grief,' he said.

Mehzentarecalls thetragedy that shook the community in 2010:

Eritrean community is still traumatized by 2010 crash

6 years ago

Duration 0:45

Aaron Mehzenta recalls the drunk driving crash that killed 2 on Halloween night in 2010