Etobicoke Father Of 2 Lucky To Be Alive After Road Rage Incident Left Him Seriously Injured

“It was by far the scariest moment of my life,” 39-year-old Justin Smith told CBC Toronto. “I’m lucky I’m not dead.” Toronto police say it happened around 5pm last Friday at Westway Plaza, near Kipling and Dixon streets. Smith was leaving the square, having just bought dinner for his wife and 10-year-old twin boys. As Smith walked to his car, he noticed a driver parked at a fire. Smith told the driver to move his car. He then got into his own vehicle and headed home. “I didn’t think anything of it. He didn’t say anything back,” Smith said. On the way back to his apartment, the driver pulled up next to Smith at an intersection and started yelling at him. The driver then followed him back to the parking lot of his building. Smith says he tried to walk away, but was unable to shake off the assailant. Finally, he got out of his car and tried to walk into his building. That’s when the car sped towards him and hit him, shattering the windshield. The driver fled the scene.

Assault with a weapon

“I just started screaming and it was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life,” Smith said. “It was so fast, but it felt like forever.” Residents of the building heard the commotion and found Smith bleeding on the ground in the parking lot. A neighbor called Smith’s wife, Magda Sozda, who works at a nearby flower shop. Smith’s 10-year-old twin boys are pictured here visiting him in the hospital. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) When she arrived 10 minutes later, she said her husband’s only concern was about their family and how they were going to pay the bills. “He kept screaming, “We’re screwed. We screwed up. We’re so screwed,” Szozda said. “And I’m like, ‘Okay, you’re here. You are alive. Let’s just focus on that now.” Toronto Police Division 23 is investigating the attack as an assault with a weapon — the shooter’s vehicle. In an email to CBC Toronto on Friday morning, police said video of the incident revealed that the assailant was a man. There was also a woman in the passenger seat.
Police say they are looking for both people.

Smith may never walk normally again

A week later, Smith is still in hospital with serious injuries, including to his wrist and leg. He will undergo surgery in the next two weeks. He says doctors say it will be at least nine months before he can work, adding that he may never walk normally again. At the time the driver hit Smith, his sons were inside their apartment, which faces the parking lot. Luckily they weren’t on their balcony and didn’t see what happened. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) “I live for my family. I work for my family … I do everything I can to give my family the best life,” Smith said through tears. As a full-time Canada Post mail carrier and part-time Uber driver, Smith is the family’s primary breadwinner. The onus has now fallen on his wife to pay the rent, as well as take care of the boys and their 10-month-old puppy. Smith, right, is pictured here with his wife, Magda Szozda, and their two sons. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) “He’s one of the hardest working people I know, but he was the reason we made it,” Szorda told CBC Toronto. “The looming thought that he’s out of commission is probably the scariest.”

community response

Szozda says she has been overwhelmed by the support from family, friends and neighbors who have dropped off food and supplies. Szozda’s cousin, Ania Russocki, also started a GoFundMe in hopes of raising additional funds to help them pay rent for the next few months.
Smith is pictured here with sons Lucas, left, and Benjamin, right. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) “The reaction and what they’re going through right now and the love and support of the community has definitely made a huge difference to the whole family,” Russocki said. Szozda says she also hopes to use the community’s response as a teachable moment for her sons. “There are good people … You think you’re so alone sometimes,” he said. “He will never, ever be forgotten.”

title: “Etobicoke Father Of 2 Lucky To Be Alive After Road Rage Incident Left Him Seriously Injured Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-06” author: “Richard Smith”

“It was by far the scariest moment of my life,” 39-year-old Justin Smith told CBC Toronto. “I’m lucky I’m not dead.” Toronto police say it happened around 5pm last Friday at Westway Plaza, near Kipling and Dixon streets. Smith was leaving the square, having just bought dinner for his wife and 10-year-old twin boys. As Smith walked to his car, he noticed a driver parked at a fire. Smith told the driver to move his car. He then got into his own vehicle and headed home. “I didn’t think anything of it. He didn’t say anything back,” Smith said. On the way back to his apartment, the driver pulled up next to Smith at an intersection and started yelling at him. The driver then followed him back to the parking lot of his building. Smith says he tried to walk away, but was unable to shake off the assailant. Finally, he got out of his car and tried to walk into his building. That’s when the car sped towards him and hit him, shattering the windshield. The driver fled the scene.

Assault with a weapon

“I just started screaming and it was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life,” Smith said. “It was so fast, but it felt like forever.” Residents of the building heard the commotion and found Smith bleeding on the ground in the parking lot. A neighbor called Smith’s wife, Magda Sozda, who works at a nearby flower shop. Smith’s 10-year-old twin boys are pictured here visiting him in the hospital. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) When she arrived 10 minutes later, she said her husband’s only concern was about their family and how they were going to pay the bills. “He kept screaming, “We’re screwed. We screwed up. We’re so screwed,” Szozda said. “And I’m like, ‘Okay, you’re here. You are alive. Let’s just focus on that now.” Toronto Police Division 23 is investigating the attack as an assault with a weapon — the shooter’s vehicle. In an email to CBC Toronto on Friday morning, police said video of the incident revealed that the assailant was a man. There was also a woman in the passenger seat.
Police say they are looking for both people.

Smith may never walk normally again

A week later, Smith is still in hospital with serious injuries, including to his wrist and leg. He will undergo surgery in the next two weeks. He says doctors say it will be at least nine months before he can work, adding that he may never walk normally again. At the time the driver hit Smith, his sons were inside their apartment, which faces the parking lot. Luckily they weren’t on their balcony and didn’t see what happened. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) “I live for my family. I work for my family … I do everything I can to give my family the best life,” Smith said through tears. As a full-time Canada Post mail carrier and part-time Uber driver, Smith is the family’s primary breadwinner. The onus has now fallen on his wife to pay the rent, as well as take care of the boys and their 10-month-old puppy. Smith, right, is pictured here with his wife, Magda Szozda, and their two sons. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) “He’s one of the hardest working people I know, but he was the reason we made it,” Szorda told CBC Toronto. “The looming thought that he’s out of commission is probably the scariest.”

community response

Szozda says she has been overwhelmed by the support from family, friends and neighbors who have dropped off food and supplies. Szozda’s cousin, Ania Russocki, also started a GoFundMe in hopes of raising additional funds to help them pay rent for the next few months.
Smith is pictured here with sons Lucas, left, and Benjamin, right. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) “The reaction and what they’re going through right now and the love and support of the community has definitely made a huge difference to the whole family,” Russocki said. Szozda says she also hopes to use the community’s response as a teachable moment for her sons. “There are good people … You think you’re so alone sometimes,” he said. “He will never, ever be forgotten.”

title: “Etobicoke Father Of 2 Lucky To Be Alive After Road Rage Incident Left Him Seriously Injured Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-03” author: “Ronald Gomez”

“It was by far the scariest moment of my life,” 39-year-old Justin Smith told CBC Toronto. “I’m lucky I’m not dead.” Toronto police say it happened around 5pm last Friday at Westway Plaza, near Kipling and Dixon streets. Smith was leaving the square, having just bought dinner for his wife and 10-year-old twin boys. As Smith walked to his car, he noticed a driver parked at a fire. Smith told the driver to move his car. He then got into his own vehicle and headed home. “I didn’t think anything of it. He didn’t say anything back,” Smith said. On the way back to his apartment, the driver pulled up next to Smith at an intersection and started yelling at him. The driver then followed him back to the parking lot of his building. Smith says he tried to walk away, but was unable to shake off the assailant. Finally, he got out of his car and tried to walk into his building. That’s when the car sped towards him and hit him, shattering the windshield. The driver fled the scene.

Assault with a weapon

“I just started screaming and it was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life,” Smith said. “It was so fast, but it felt like forever.” Residents of the building heard the commotion and found Smith bleeding on the ground in the parking lot. A neighbor called Smith’s wife, Magda Sozda, who works at a nearby flower shop. Smith’s 10-year-old twin boys are pictured here visiting him in the hospital. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) When she arrived 10 minutes later, she said her husband’s only concern was about their family and how they were going to pay the bills. “He kept screaming, “We’re screwed. We screwed up. We’re so screwed,” Szozda said. “And I’m like, ‘Okay, you’re here. You are alive. Let’s just focus on that now.” Toronto Police Division 23 is investigating the attack as an assault with a weapon — the shooter’s vehicle. In an email to CBC Toronto on Friday morning, police said video of the incident revealed that the assailant was a man. There was also a woman in the passenger seat.
Police say they are looking for both people.

Smith may never walk normally again

A week later, Smith is still in hospital with serious injuries, including to his wrist and leg. He will undergo surgery in the next two weeks. He says doctors say it will be at least nine months before he can work, adding that he may never walk normally again. At the time the driver hit Smith, his sons were inside their apartment, which faces the parking lot. Luckily they weren’t on their balcony and didn’t see what happened. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) “I live for my family. I work for my family … I do everything I can to give my family the best life,” Smith said through tears. As a full-time Canada Post mail carrier and part-time Uber driver, Smith is the family’s primary breadwinner. The onus has now fallen on his wife to pay the rent, as well as take care of the boys and their 10-month-old puppy. Smith, right, is pictured here with his wife, Magda Szozda, and their two sons. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) “He’s one of the hardest working people I know, but he was the reason we made it,” Szorda told CBC Toronto. “The looming thought that he’s out of commission is probably the scariest.”

community response

Szozda says she has been overwhelmed by the support from family, friends and neighbors who have dropped off food and supplies. Szozda’s cousin, Ania Russocki, also started a GoFundMe in hopes of raising additional funds to help them pay rent for the next few months.
Smith is pictured here with sons Lucas, left, and Benjamin, right. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) “The reaction and what they’re going through right now and the love and support of the community has definitely made a huge difference to the whole family,” Russocki said. Szozda says she also hopes to use the community’s response as a teachable moment for her sons. “There are good people … You think you’re so alone sometimes,” he said. “He will never, ever be forgotten.”

title: “Etobicoke Father Of 2 Lucky To Be Alive After Road Rage Incident Left Him Seriously Injured Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-04” author: “Joe Martinez”

“It was by far the scariest moment of my life,” 39-year-old Justin Smith told CBC Toronto. “I’m lucky I’m not dead.” Toronto police say it happened around 5pm last Friday at Westway Plaza, near Kipling and Dixon streets. Smith was leaving the square, having just bought dinner for his wife and 10-year-old twin boys. As Smith walked to his car, he noticed a driver parked at a fire. Smith told the driver to move his car. He then got into his own vehicle and headed home. “I didn’t think anything of it. He didn’t say anything back,” Smith said. On the way back to his apartment, the driver pulled up next to Smith at an intersection and started yelling at him. The driver then followed him back to the parking lot of his building. Smith says he tried to walk away, but was unable to shake off the assailant. Finally, he got out of his car and tried to walk into his building. That’s when the car sped towards him and hit him, shattering the windshield. The driver fled the scene.

Assault with a weapon

“I just started screaming and it was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my life,” Smith said. “It was so fast, but it felt like forever.” Residents of the building heard the commotion and found Smith bleeding on the ground in the parking lot. A neighbor called Smith’s wife, Magda Sozda, who works at a nearby flower shop. Smith’s 10-year-old twin boys are pictured here visiting him in the hospital. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) When she arrived 10 minutes later, she said her husband’s only concern was about their family and how they were going to pay the bills. “He kept screaming, “We’re screwed. We screwed up. We’re so screwed,” Szozda said. “And I’m like, ‘Okay, you’re here. You are alive. Let’s just focus on that now.” Toronto Police Division 23 is investigating the attack as an assault with a weapon — the shooter’s vehicle. In an email to CBC Toronto on Friday morning, police said video of the incident revealed that the assailant was a man. There was also a woman in the passenger seat.
Police say they are looking for both people.

Smith may never walk normally again

A week later, Smith is still in hospital with serious injuries, including to his wrist and leg. He will undergo surgery in the next two weeks. He says doctors say it will be at least nine months before he can work, adding that he may never walk normally again. At the time the driver hit Smith, his sons were inside their apartment, which faces the parking lot. Luckily they weren’t on their balcony and didn’t see what happened. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) “I live for my family. I work for my family … I do everything I can to give my family the best life,” Smith said through tears. As a full-time Canada Post mail carrier and part-time Uber driver, Smith is the family’s primary breadwinner. The onus has now fallen on his wife to pay the rent, as well as take care of the boys and their 10-month-old puppy. Smith, right, is pictured here with his wife, Magda Szozda, and their two sons. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) “He’s one of the hardest working people I know, but he was the reason we made it,” Szorda told CBC Toronto. “The looming thought that he’s out of commission is probably the scariest.”

community response

Szozda says she has been overwhelmed by the support from family, friends and neighbors who have dropped off food and supplies. Szozda’s cousin, Ania Russocki, also started a GoFundMe in hopes of raising additional funds to help them pay rent for the next few months.
Smith is pictured here with sons Lucas, left, and Benjamin, right. (Submitted by Magda Szozda) “The reaction and what they’re going through right now and the love and support of the community has definitely made a huge difference to the whole family,” Russocki said. Szozda says she also hopes to use the community’s response as a teachable moment for her sons. “There are good people … You think you’re so alone sometimes,” he said. “He will never, ever be forgotten.”