KITCHENER — John Gaudet was standing with his walker waiting to catch a bus headed to his sister's house to watch the first game of the Toronto Blue Jays playoff series last Thursday.

And then in a split second, Gaudet was in hospital fighting for his life. He died Sunday at Grand River Hospital of internal injuries.

In a freak accident, the 73-year-old Kitchener man was hit by a Canada Post box after it was knocked over in a collision involving three cars at Highland Road East and Heiman Street Thursday afternoon.

For family members, the death of their father and brother-in-law who was struck and killed in such an unusual way is hard to understand and it's compounded by the fact that the retired postal worker was killed by a mailbox.

"The irony of him being killed by a mailbox is unbelievable," said Gaudet's sister-in-law Viola Gaudet.

Viola Gaudet said her brother-in-law was looking forward to watching the game with his sister and nephew.

"He was just minding his own business," she said.

Waterloo Regional Police said Gaudet was struck by a Canada Post box used by postal workers to hold mail when a black vehicle, possibly a Chrysler, turned left from Heiman on to Highland at about 3 p.m.

The black vehicle cut off a second vehicle and involved a third vehicle, said Staff Sgt. Mike Haffner.

Police said the black vehicle took off and police are treating the collision as a hit and run. The black vehicle was last seen westbound on Highland toward Stirling Avenue.

"I wish the gentleman would turn himself in," Viola Gaudet said.

She said her brother-in-law was an avid golfer until "his legs started to give out" and used a walker to get around.

But he was doing well despite a heart attack and lived nearby at a retirement home, Viola Gaudet said.

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Funeral arrangements have yet to be set, she said.

Anyone with information should contact police at 519-650-8500, ext. 8719 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.