Crash victim being honoured before Roughriders game 'means a lot,' friend says

Crash victim being honoured before Roughriders game 'means a lot,' friend says

Virpalsingh Virdi says memorial is a reminder Bhishma Rajyaguru's life mattered

Virpalsingh Virdi says the last time he talked to his friend Bhishma Rajyaguru, the two made plans to have dinner together when Rajyaguru made it back to Regina that night.

Only five minutes after their call, he was killed in a head-on collision on Highway 11 outside of Lumsden, Sask., on Saturday night.

Virdi said his friend shared his location with him, and he found out about the crash from an alert on his phone.

"At that time, I just got notification that this thing happened. Like, there was a collision. And I was so normal," Virdi told CBC's The 306 host Peter Mills.

"Like, we even haven't thought, like, it would be this big."

Rajyaguru's SUV and a vehicle driven by Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker and team captain Jayden Dalke collided.

RCMP have said Dalke, who was also killed in the crash, was driving on the wrong side of the divided highway, with alcohol and cannabis in his SUV.

Friends, family mourn 22-year-old killed in wrong-way crash near Lumsden, Sask.

The Roughriders have said they will honour Rajyaguru before their home game against the Edmonton Elks on Thursday night.

"Our hearts are with his family, friends, and all those mourning his loss. We also hold in our thoughts everyone who is supporting those affected during this incredibly difficult time," the CFL team said in a statement Tuesday.

The Roughriders also said they were working with Rajyaguru's family to find the best way to support them.

"It means a lot that Bhishma is being remembered," Virdi said.

"Seeing community coming together and honouring him, remembering him, like his life mattered."

Virdi said he will not be going to the game but will watch the memorial online later.

Roughriders general manager Jeremy O'Day said at a news conference Monday that the team would hold a tribute to Dalke before the game and the players would wear his initials on their helmets.

"There's no handbook for instances like this, so I would suggest everybody's handling it as best they can," said Rod Pedersen, a sports commentator and former voice of the Roughriders.

Pedersen, an advocate for addiction recovery, said collisions such as this are products of a larger problem around drinking and driving.

"This is not a reflection on the Roughriders by any stretch," he said.

"This is a societal issue, a human issue, not a sports issue or even a football culture issue, in my mind."

Laura Gillis is a Regina-based journalist. You can reach her at laura.gillis@cbc.ca.