For every life taken, for every body broken, for every spirit forever altered by a collision with the white rental van that left a trail of destruction on Yonge St. Monday afternoon, there was a flash of goodwill.A hand held as life drained away, a police officer protecting and serving a shaken bystander, strangers giving blood, or bottled water and granola bars, a faraway community feeling Toronto’s pain and raising funds to help.These 26 tales from Toronto the Good won’t bring back the dead, nor will they heal the physical hurt. But shining a light on those who responded to the chaos with courage and compassion may serve as an emotional balm for this city’s wounded soul.Patrick Savoy: The pedestrian who chased the careering vanPatrick Savoy was on a walk near North York City Centre on Monday, soaking in the sunshine, when he saw the white van barrelling down the sidewalk.He figured the driver simply didn’t realize he had mounted the curb and began screaming at him, chasing him, yelling at the driver to get off the sidewalk.The van accelerated, and Savoy realized the driver was about to hit multiple pedestrians. He called 911.“I thought it’s just a complete moron or maniac. I didn’t know that he had started up at Yonge and Finch.”When the van sped off, he turned back to help the victims — one of whom he later recognized as Dorothy Sewell, after seeing her photo in the media. “I started talking to her, seeing if she was conscious, took her pulse,” he said. Savoy was joined by Roula Massin, and the pair began performing CPR.Savoy said police and paramedics arrived at quickly.“I can’t say enough good things about the police and the fire (services),” he said. “Everybody involved was really good.”Read more: The ordinary Torontonians who tried to save lives and ease the hurt‘It’s changed forever’: Yonge St. and the road to recoveryThe day Yonge St. became ...
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