Family makes pilgrimage to fatal Morris area crash site

An Ontario family made a road trip to Winnipeg at the end of June, driving more than 22 hours. But it wasn’t associated with the same feelings a summer road trip usually has. They were in Morris to honour and commemorate the upcoming second year anniversary of the death of a beloved family member.

Lijo George, 31, son of Joseph George and Lissamma Joseph, and older brother of Jubi Joseph – was one of the three people killed in a fatal car crash on Sept. 24, 2024 at the intersection of Highways 23 and 200 around 4:30 p.m.

George is survived by his wife Rozy, the fourth occupant of the vehicle, who had multiple non-life threatening injuries. She was treated at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg for weeks until she was ready to undertake the long journey back home to India.

Their arrival in Canada was filled with dreams for the future.

In July 2022, George married Rozy, and together they came to Canada in 2023 for a better life. On their way to Winnipeg, they spent time with their Ontario family in Newmarket – their uncle Saji John, his wife Dr MaryAnne John, and son Akash John – before settling down in Morris and awaiting approval of their documents.

It was the document stamping that necessitated they travel to the Lancaster-Tolstoi border crossing, closest to where they lived.

On Sept. 24, they were driven by a couple they had been friends with. On their way back, they were involved in the fatal crash which took his life, along with the couple’s.

“I still remember that call, and I took the earliest flight I could to Winnipeg,” said John, George’s uncle. “I went to the hospital first to see Rozy, from there to the police station, before heading to the crash site.

“It was unbelievable and it still seems a blur. I hadn’t told Lijo’s dad and mom yet. They kept calling and wanting to know how he was doing. Finally, my brother just asked me if Lijo was still alive. I had to give him the sad news and soon after called my niece Jubi in Abu Dhabi.”

“The voice of my uncle saying ‘Lijo is no more’ still echoes through my head and I feel the pain today as freshly as I did that day! I passed out because it was just something that is not thinkable, and I had to be hospitalized,” Jubi said.

Jubi is a teacher in a school in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Her wedding preparations are underway as the family comes together to celebrate the happy occasion later this year.

“As the day approaches, it’s even more heart-wrenching to think my brother will not be around for it. There was a time when we were discussing the timeline and I said I’d rather have fewer people attend than not having Lijo with me on my big day.”

The parents remain heartbroken saying they have trouble piecing the accident together in their minds.

“All we know is our son is no more and it is a tragic reality we live with every day,” they said in a statement.

A community comes together

According to his uncle John and aunt MaryAnne, what followed soon after until the funeral is a testimony of a community coming together to give, love, and support.

“We didn’t know anyone in Manitoba except for one family acquaintance, who welcomed us and led us to his network of close family friends,” said MaryAnne. “From then on we didn’t have to worry about funeral arrangements, accommodation, or even transportation. It was as if we were being held together by their warmth, friendship, love, and care.”

The funeral took place on Oct. 12 when families from India, and different parts of Canada and the U.S. flew in. Most of them stayed back for the Sunday service at the Church of the Rock, the same church that George attended.

On June 26, John and his family visited the crash site once again to reinforce the cross that they had placed in 2024. They planted fresh flowers, and weeded the area around it, putting stones at the base of the cross.

Sept. 24 will mark two years since the accident.