Vigil held for blind man hit by driver in Oakland

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Monday night loved ones remembered a blind man who was killed by a driver in Oakland. Mithaq Salem was killed last Thursday while in a crosswalk near his mosque.

Mourners gathered at the Lions Center for the Blind on Broadway. They talked about the caring father of five who lost almost all of his vision after a stroke in 2009.

His mobility instructor, Katt Jones, said he was a smart and driven person who didn't let his visual impairment slow him down.

"It surprised me greatly. I live about three blocks from where he was hit. And I saw him walking around about a month ago, just traveling like a rock star, really confident. So I was completely floored when I got the news," Jones said.

A GoFundMe account has raised more than $7,000 for Salem's family.

GoFundMe: Mithaq Salem Memorial Fund