‘DO THE RIGHT THING’ VICTIM’S FAMILY PLEADS WITH HIT, RUN DRIVER TO COME FORWARD
The father of Ryan Barron, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident while skateboarding down a Vancouver street, thinks it’s only a matter of time before police find the driver of the vehicle.
In an interview from Windsor, Ont., Terry Barron said the family is waiting by the phone, hoping Vancouver police call to give them an update on the early Sunday morning tragedy on Heather Street near West 52nd Avenue.
“Police have a lot of evidence from the scene,” a grieving Terry said Tuesday.
And he urged the person driving the vehicle, who left the scene after hitting his son, to go to police.
“If they have a conscience they need to come forward,” he said. ”It will help in the healing process for us.”
Police were called to the quiet residential area at 3 a.m. Sunday after neighbours heard shouting from the street. Barron and a friend were skateboarding on Heather when a fast-approaching vehicle struck him, throwing him more than 100 feet.
His friend tried giving CPR while an ambulance was on the way, but Barron was pronounced dead at hospital from massive injuries.
Barron, 30, had moved to Vancouver from Windsor and was working for Vancouver-based HBI Canada. A popular skateboarder and bass player with metal band Days Fade, he had just been promoted at HBI after being with the company for nearly two years
“He was a huge part of our work family,” said Vince Man, the warehouse manager at HBI Canada.
“It’s been tough. On Sunday, everyone was in shock.”
Man said Barron touched everyone with his warm and engaging personality.
“He had a big heart,” he said. “He was a genuinely good person.”
At a news briefing just hours after the tragedy, police confirmed the vehicle they’re looking for is a silver Mitsubishi that’s about 10 years old. They said it would have fresh damage to the driver’s side front end and wheel.
A $25,000 reward has been offered by Barron’s workplace.
HBI’s Josh Kesselman said: “We are just trying to convince this guy’s friends to turn him in. Cars don’t disappear and we want one of this driver’s friends to turn him in.”
In Windsor, Barron’s father said they hope the reward helps police track down the driver.