'She was like an angel': Burnaby father mourns daughter killed in crash

LutfullahBehzadremembers the moment he learned his daughterMuska had been involved in a collision.

"Your mind tells you something,that it could be my daughter, and suddenly theground was slipping out of my foot," he said. "How hard it is when I heard this news."

Fourteen-year-old Muska was struck and killed by a dump truck as she was walking home fromByrne Creek Community School in Burnaby.

Muska immigrated from Afghanistan to B.C. with her mother and siblings in 2020to be with her father.

Behzad said his daughter was mature beyond her years,spendingher days caring for her two younger brothers.

"She was like an angel," Behzad said.

He saidMuska had dreams of becoming a doctor, in part so she could earn a good livingand support her family.

"She would think about us," he said. "She'dsay,'I really want a good life foryou, a good future for you.'"

The teen was honoured by hundreds at a funeral service on Monday.

Concerns about the circumstances surrounding her death remain,namelya nearby construction project that has been at the centre of safety issues.

In November, another girl was hit by a minivanin the same location, andin 2020, a worker was crushed to death.Police have issued more than 100 tickets to commercial vehicle drivers in the area.

The construction company, Ledingham McAllister & Marcon, claims it followed safety requirements.

The City of Burnaby said Wednesday thatit willinstall a temporary sidewalk along the south side of 11thAvenue between 15th and 17thStreet this summer with plans for a permanent sidewalk. It said it is also looking at othertraffic calming and safety measures.

It went on to say it will make any necessary changes if an RCMP investigation finds the City could have done something differently to avoid such a tragedy.