Father of 4-year-old killed in B.C. crash asks people to give a flower to their bus driver

Leonardo Machado is seen riding a bus in this image posted to the family's GoFundMe.

The father of a four-year-old boy who died in a bus crash in Horseshoe Bay last week has a request to honour his son’s legacy.

Give a flower to your bus driver, ask them how they’re doing, or buy them a coffee.

In a message written in his son’s voice, Clineu Machado revealed Leonardo loved transit and enjoyed riding buses and the SkyTrain with his family, or simply watching them go by.

“Every time a bus was coming or a SkyTrain was showing close my father tells me: ‘Look Leo ... look the bus ... the bus,’ and I laugh and laugh because I just love them so much. They became my best friends and they brought me everywhere around this beautiful city,” the letter reads.

Read more: Community rallies around family of 4-year-old boy killed in Horseshoe Bay bus crash

“You must be sad and I am too, when you heard about the Horseshoe Bay accident and my best friend, the bus, separate me from my best friend in life, yes ... my mom. We were inseparable and went everyday out to enjoy Vancouver.”

Leonardo was killed last Wednesday afternoon when a TransLink bus jumped a curb at the corner of Bay Street and Keith Road, near the ferry terminal. His mother, Silvana, was taken to hospital in critical condition.

Read more: 4-year-old boy killed, mother in critical condition after Horseshoe Bay bus crash

To ease the pain of the tragedy, the letter asks everyone to bring a flower to the “friends that drove me around this beautiful city,” and show the drivers kindness “because they are my heroes.”

“My friends who drove me throughout the city are devastated and impacted by what happened with me, and I want to thank them for all the enjoyment they provided me and put love and confidence into their hands that they drive all of us safely and comfortable,” it continues.

The father also shared that Leonardo’s mother is in stable condition at Vancouver General Hospital, though “her kidneys and her physical trauma remain a concern,” and asked people to pray for her.

The message was shared on a GoFundMe page set up by Clineu Machado’s colleagues at AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza Joint, raising money for family members to travel from Brazil for Leonardo’s funeral and medical expenses. As of Tuesday, the fundraiser has received more than $120,000.

The police investigation into the incident continues.