Calgary hit-and-run victim was on his way to work at gas station when he was killed

The man who was struck and killed Monday in what police think was a road-racing related hit and run was crossing the street on his way to work a night shift at a Husky gas station, a member of his expat community says.

Chandhan Rai Keedhoo was crossing 32nd Avenue at 26th Street N.E. when two eastbound vehicles sped through the intersection at about twice the posted limit of 50 km/h, police say.

Keedhoo, 38, was hit by an Acura TL as it ran the red light. He was taken to hospital but died of his injuries.

Both the driver of the Acura and the driver of the other vehicle, a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, failed to stay at the scene.

Both drivers later turned themselves in to police.

Keedhoo came to Canada four years ago from Mauritius, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, and was helping to support his parents and siblings back home, said Avi Quedou, liaison officer with the Calgary Mauritian Community Association.

Keedhoo was on his way to work at the Husky station on 32nd Avenue when he was killed, Quedou said.

Quedou, whose group became involved when it was learned the victim was from Mauritius, said the association has been in touch with Keedhoo's family and has set up a GoFundMe page to help them pay for the cremation rituals.

"It's actually going well, I think we are close to $6,000, so that's pretty good," he said.

A spokesperson for Husky Energy said the company has offered to ensure Keedhoo's body is returned to Mauritius.

"We are providing support to his family and co-workers in whatever way they may need," Kim Guttormson said in an email to CBC News.

Police say charges against the two drivers, both adult males, are still pending as the investigation continues.

Charges facing the 19-year-old Acura driver could include hit and run causing death and dangerous driving causing death. Charges of racing causing death could also be laid if police determine the vehicles were racing, said Sgt. Colin Foster, who is in charge of the collision reconstruction unit.

Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact the Calgary police traffic section at 403-567-4000 or Crime Stoppers.