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Grieving widow pleads for hit-and-run driver to come forward

The wife of a hit-and-run victim is begging the unknown driver to come forward to police, nearly three weeks after her husband was run down in the city’s southwest.

Paramjeet Sidhu, 46, was hit while using a marked crosswalk at Rabbit Hill Road and Hodgson Boulevard around 9:30 p.m. on October 5.

He was taken to hospital, where he remained in a coma until the night of October 23, when he passed away.

Sidhu, a trained physician and father of two, moved to Canada in 2010. His wife Gurpreet Sidhu described him as a loving husband and father to his two sons, aged five and twelve.

The driver who hit him fled the scene and has not yet been identified, leaving the family frightened and without closure.

“It’s a huge loss for the family, it’s something which we are going to live with for the rest of our life,” Gurpreet Sidhu said, fighting back tears.

“I feel scared, I cannot be with [my sons] all of the time but I feel scared that anybody can hit them and I won’t be able to find out who the person is,” she said.

“So please, humans make mistakes, kindly come forward so we can have closure,” she said.

“Have courage and be clear to your conscience.”

Husband went for a walk and never came home

On the night of October 5, Gurpreet Sidhu said her husband went for a walk – something he often did in the evening – around 9 p.m.

When her husband had not returned home by 10 p.m., she went outside to look for him.

Then, at 11:15 p.m., she heard a knock on her door. It was the police, there to tell her that her husband had been hit and was in hospital.

Calling a family friend to come watch over her children, she rushed to the emergency room to be with her husband.

Now, Gurpreet Sidhu says she doesn’t know how she is going to continue to live so close to the spot where her husband was hit.

Suspect still at large

“It’s unknown where the suspect vehicle may be at this time,” said Sgt. Brad Harsch on Saturday.

Harsch said police have only a “vague vehicle description,” leading them to believe Sidhu was hit by a late model four-door sedan that was either white or light in colour.

“We believe … the potential damage to the vehicle should be possibly at the lower front, passenger side up on the hood area and possibly a break to the windshield.”

Police have interviewed about eight witnesses, and have also collected some video footage of the scene. Harsh said officers will continue to canvas the area for more information.

He said police are hoping the driver confided in someone about the incident. They are now hoping that person is willing to come forward.

“At this time, we’d just like to put a plea out to anybody who has information regarding this incident back on October fifth,” he said.

“The family has a lot of questions for us, the Edmonton Police Service, we’re doing our best to bring who’s responsible forward.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact EPS or Crime Stoppers.