Family mourns loss of son, brother after fatal hit and run in Saskatoon

Austin Walker was texting with his younger brother shortly before he was killed in a hit and run in Saskatoon last month.

Chet Walker says his son Austin, 25, was asking his brother about how he did in some baseball games earlier that day. They've always been a close family, Chet said in an interview.

"My two sons are my best friends. It's pretty shitty. It's his little brother's birthday today," Chet said on Thursday.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday for Austin — known by friends and family as "Auzi" —  who died in a hit and run early on the morning of June 22, while travelling home on an electric scooter. Saskatoon police say the driver of the car that hit Austin on Warman Road, near the Circle Drive overpass, fled the scene.

The 38-year-old driver of the car was later arrested and charged with fleeing the scene of a collision, driving while impaired, and driving over the legal alcohol limit causing death.

The death devastated the close-knit family, Austin's father said.

"They're telling me there was over 1,000 people [at his funeral]," Chet said, his voice breaking as he tried to speak about his son.

"He was just a great, great guy. I just want him to be remembered, and I want this guy to know what he's done to us and what he did to my son."

The young man "had a sharp wit, and a calming demeanor," an online obituary said. "He was mature beyond his years and always had time for his friends and family.

"Auz had a bright future and was taken far too soon."

Originally from Dalmeny, north of Saskatoon, Austin had been living in the city and was working sales at Wajax, an industrial products and services provider. He loved his job and was a rising star at the company, Chet said.

The family asked people to wear sports jerseys to Austin's funeral service this week. He loved sports, playing competitive hockey and baseball for years — Chet coached his son in many of those sports.

"We just want everybody else to know what happened and how devastated we are," Chet said.