Port Moody Rev. Tom Cheung has been identified as the man who died in a fiery crash on Highway 99 at the Peace Arch border crossing into Washington last Thursday, May 2.
Cheung was the lead pastor at the Port Moody Pacific Grace MB Church at the time of his death. A GoFundMe page set up this week for his wife and three children has so far raised over $30,000.
In a message to donors, the page notes Cheung was the family’s main provider and that the money would be used to help the family support their basic costs of living and education.
Peter Teh, a spokesperson for the church, said the whole community has been reeling from Cheung’s sudden death. “Many people are asking why. We’re angry. So far, there are so many unknowns.”
Of the nearly 300-person Cantonese congregation, many have been supporting the family with cooking, cleaning, counselling and financial arrangement, said Teh.
And while there are other pastors in the church to take care of weekly services, Teh says it’s impossible to replace someone like Cheung, who had worked in ministries across Venezuela, Mexico and China.
“He was a great, great pastor,” said Teh.
The deadly crash occurred las week when a Porsche Cayenne slammed into the back of Cheung’s Toyota van, sending both vehicles into the bushes just 300 metres from the Canada-U.S. border.
The collision set off a fire in Cheung’s vehicle and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Porsche was taken to hospital with injuries that were not considered life threatening.
Peace Arch border crossing shut down in both directions due to accident caused by speeding SUV which hit multiple cars. Driver under arrest, bald male escorted by police taken by ambulance. No word on other injuries or occupats of van. #wsdot_traffic #globalbc pic.twitter.com/zaZObzDWpm
— vick grewal (@VickGrewal) May 2, 2019
— With files from the Canadian Press
