‘He would do anything for anyone’: Family mourns loss of Hamilton man killed in horrific hit-and-run crash
Nasraw Osman was the kind of person to give the shirt off his back to a stranger without second thought.
To friends, he was the ever-present helping hand, available at the drop of a hat if money or advice or a ride were in need.
To family, he was the humble big brother and son, the loving uncle to 10 nieces and nephews, the person who would go the extra mile no matter the circumstance.
I remember once, he wanted to get my mother flowers for Mother's Day, but he had just sold his car," said his younger brother, Zaniar. He biked three hours in the rain on the Mountain to get them.
He would do anything for anyone."
It's this type of selflessness those who knew Osman will miss most after the 33-year-old died last week in a horrific hit-and-run on Limeridge Road East.
Osman was killed around 11 p.m. May 17 after his 2003 Kawasaki motorcycle was struck and dragged by an eastbound 2020 Hyundai Sonata that was partway through a U-turn on Limeridge.
Hamilton police said the driver of the Hyundai kept going after the collision. Osman and his motorcycle became wedged underneath the car, and he was dragged some 100 metres.
The driver fled on foot, leaving the car near Upper Kenilworth Avenue, police said. More than one door was left open, leading police to suspect there may have been a passenger or passengers.
Osman was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Wednesday, police said they had no further updates on the case, which is being investigated by the collision reconstruction unit and divisional detectives because of the added criminality of running from the scene.
Speed and driver impairment have not yet been ruled out as possible factors in the crash.
Zaniar said Osman's death has left his family shocked and devastated.
He was known as a person who always helped everyone, but never showed off or talked about it," said Zaniar. He loved being outdoors, riding his bike."
Osman spent years volunteering and working in child care, Zaniar added, leading art classes for troubled youth and helping them get on the right path to a healthy life.
After his funeral, so many people I didn't even know said to me, Your brother was the one who got us away from drugs and gangs,'" he said. He probably helped 100 people or more."
A GoFundMe launched by the family to honour Osman has raised more than $16,000.
Zaniar said the money will be used to build water wells in underdeveloped countries, a common custom in Islam to uphold the goodwill of people who have perished.
We already have enough to build nine wells," said Zaniar. We want to continue the good deeds Nasraw made in his life."
Hamilton police said the investigation into the collision remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Const. Ashley Duxbury at 905-546-8964 or acting Det. Sgt. Mike Hall at 905-546-3851.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or crimestoppershamilton.com.
Sebastian Bron is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbron@thespec.com