Mendy Goossen dies in fatal Harrow car crash
Fatal Harrow car crash death of Mendy Goossen
Mendy Goossen, a nineteen-year-old woman, is being mourned by her family following a collision involving an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) cruiser over the weekend. Her family has confirmed her identity to CTV News Windsor.
The younger sibling of Alex Goossen, Mendy was officially recognized as the person struck by the OPP vehicle early Sunday morning on County Road 20. Known within her family as the baby sister, she is remembered as a quiet teenager possessing a strong sense of humor. Alex described her as having a good amount of sass, likely a necessity given her family structure.
According to her brother Alex, Mendy was adopted at the age of four. She was born in Ethiopia but grew up significantly in the Town of Harrow. Mendy, who was often drawn to artistic pursuits, loved bookshops, coffee shops, and the area’s art scene. She aspired to a career in the film industry, specifically aiming for editing or directing roles, which require substantial creativity.
“She wanted to get into editing, directing, all that kind of stuff. The stuff that takes a lot of creativity to do,” Alex shared. He noted her creative flow began with drawing and permeated her being, stating, “I think her imagination started flowing when she started drawing… Creativity oozed out of her.”
The Goossen family is holding a funeral for Mendy at Harrow Baptist Church on Friday, November 7th. Visitation will commence at 9:00 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. The family has extended an invitation to all who wish to attend.
Essex County OPP reported an incident around 4:25 a.m. Sunday involving a member from their Essex County Detachment. The collision occurred near Iler Road in Harrow and resulted in a pedestrian being struck. Consequently, the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) was assigned to the case, and OPP stated they could not provide further details.
A spokesperson for the SIU mentioned the pedestrian was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. They also noted the officer involved did not seem to be responding to an urgent call at the time. The SIU investigation team includes two investigators, two forensic investigators, and one collision reconstructionist. The SIU operates independently and handles cases involving deaths, serious injuries, sexual assaults, or weapon discharges.
