91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 know how many best friends you can have.91裸聊视频�

If that quote isn91裸聊视频檛 a true measure of a man, I don91裸聊视频檛 know what is.

The young man featured prominently in the photo collage above is Reid Davidson. The former Vancouver Island University soccer standout had the world at his feet. Just 24, he had a job as an administrative lead for Nanaimo United FC. University graduate, working at a job that featured one of his passions, a lovely girlfriend, loving family and more friends than you can count.

Then, in a flash, worlds were turned upside down.

, Reid91裸聊视频檚 car was struck on the Nanaimo Parkway by a minivan travelling in the wrong direction. Nanaimo RCMP that investigators believe alcohol may have been a contributing factor in the crash, as there were reports of the van being driven erratically and police were looking to locate and stop the vehicle. After the collision, the minivan driver fled on foot and was located after RCMP Police Dog Services were called in.

To date, no charges have been laid, as the investigation continues.

Reid did not survive the crash.

I91裸聊视频檝e known Reid91裸聊视频檚 dad Mike since we were kids and friends growing up together in Duncan. He moved to 100 Mile House to continue his teaching career, married his wonderful wife Lisa and together they did a remarkable job raising Reid and his sister Lydia.

I haven91裸聊视频檛 seen Mike in person for a few years now, but kept up via social media and when we did talk, slipped comfortably back into familiar roles and lexicon, poking fun at each other91裸聊视频檚 favourite hockey teams and recalling past glory.

In the aftermath of Reid91裸聊视频檚 death, I still don91裸聊视频檛 have the right words. I wish I did. With a son approximately the same age, I can91裸聊视频檛 imagine the nightmare. Like many, many others, I ache for the family. So tragic. So senseless. So unfair.

Mike and Lisa had recently moved to a new home in Kamloops to enjoy retirement. They were just heading to bed on the Wednesday night when they got the news no parent should ever receive.

91裸聊视频淚t was about 11 at night,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭here was a phone call from (Reid91裸聊视频檚 girlfriend) Georgia91裸聊视频檚 mom (in Ladysmith). Lisa answered and I could see from her expression something was wrong.91裸聊视频�

Reid was on the road heading home, after attending a birthday party for Georgia91裸聊视频檚 young nephew.

91裸聊视频淛ust the kind of stuff he would do,91裸聊视频� said his dad.

Later that night, police called and explained the investigative process may take some time.

Since then, it91裸聊视频檚 been a whirlwind. Mike said it doesn91裸聊视频檛 seem real and the family is taking things one day at a time, comforted by a massive outpouring of love and support and the knowledge Reid meant so much to so many.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 helped a lot,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e been hearing from people every day for the last week, constantly getting messages from everyone. So many people trying to be supportive of us. The maturity level of the kids that age, Reid91裸聊视频檚 friends, just blows me away. Saying the right things, doing the right things. I91裸聊视频檝e been skeptical lately on the future of this world and some of the things I91裸聊视频檝e seen coming up but when we met many of his friends over the last while, we realize not only that he had quality friends 91裸聊视频� many more recent, some since youth 91裸聊视频� but these are just mature, good people. The hospital visiting room was filled with longtime friends, as well as most of the Harbourside women91裸聊视频檚 soccer team, and many others. These wonderful friends give me more hope for the future, for sure.91裸聊视频�

While understandably angry (91裸聊视频渨e91裸聊视频檝e run through all the emotions91裸聊视频�), Mike said they are choosing to focus on the good.

91裸聊视频淗opefully justice will be served,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淏ut we are not going to give our time and energy to this person. Rather we want to focus on the positive memories and think of all the lives Reid touched. There is already too much hate in the world, we91裸聊视频檇 rather focus on the positive. We know Reid was a good person, obviously, but had no idea how many lives he impacted in a positive way, until we arrived on the Island after hearing about the accident, meeting all the people and seeing all the posts on social media of people reaching out. It91裸聊视频檚 quite surreal. We raised a really special person.91裸聊视频�

They did indeed.

Mike said he heard from many devastated young people, a large number of whom told him Reid was their best friend.

91裸聊视频淪o many best friends,91裸聊视频� said Mike. 91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 know how many best friends you can have.91裸聊视频�

Asked about fond memories that immediately sprang to mind, Mike said 91裸聊视频渢here are so many91裸聊视频� but one did stand out.

91裸聊视频淲e were so happy when our kids graduated from university,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淟isa took Lydia on a mother-daughter celebration trip. So I promised Reid we91裸聊视频檇 go to Vegas for his graduation. But COVID hit for a couple of years and then last year we didn91裸聊视频檛 get the chance. But this spring break, we got our trip in. Did all kinds of great things. Every day was just amazing.91裸聊视频�

There will be two celebration of life ceremonies for Reid.

The first, said Mike, will be Aug. 12 (1:30 p.m.) at Thompson Rivers University Grand Hall (Campus Activity Centre) in Kamloops. The second will be Aug. 26 (1 p.m.) in Nanaimo at VIU gymnasium. Everyone is welcome.

I hope the facilities are big enough.

PQB News/Vancouver Island Free Daily editor can be reached at 250-905-0019 or via email at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca.

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