As the family and friends of a popular West Island restaurant waitress prepare to say farewell to her at a memorial service this Friday, new details are emerging regarding the tragic death of Brites Machado on March 16 while walking her dog in Beaconsfield.
Machado, who turned 63 last month, was walking her dog on a leash at the corner of Windermere Street and Berkshire Avenue near her home at about 4:30 p.m. when the dog saw a squirrel and bolted, which caused Machado to fall and strike her head on the pavement while being dragged into the street by the leash. Machado was on the phone with her boyfriend at the time of the incident.
While media reports indicated that Machado had been struck by an SUV, a source told The 1510 West that the driver of the SUV did not hit her, instead stopped after seeing Machado strike her head on the road and immediately rushed to her aid and called 911. Twenty-five minutes passed before paramedics arrived to tend to Machado, who went into cardiac arrest. She was rushed to hospital in critical condition, and was declared dead after arriving at hospital.
“I was on the scene of this event, and I have to admit, it was one of the saddest things I’ve seen,” a police officer told The 1510 West.
“According to our information and witnesses, she was pulled by the leash of her dog, which she was walking when it crossed the street,” Montreal Police spokesperson Véronique Dubuc said yesterday, adding that the incident is still under investigation. “It could take several weeks before we confirm what exactly happened.”
The mother of two was a waitress at Maurizio, a popular restaurant on St. Charles Blvd. in Kirkland. In interviews with The 1510 West, friends expressed shock over the death of Machado, describing her as a vibrant, energetic and warm person who loved to travel and host dinner parties. Born in Portugal, Machado grew up in the Portuguese district on the Plateau Mont Royal before moving to the West Island. On her Facebook page, she posted: “Life is full of surprises, live is as it comes to the fullest, be happy.”
“That’s exactly who she was,” said Ingirid Castenada, who knew Machado since the 1980s. “She was actually my brother’s old girlfriend in the ’90s and we had the pleasure of having her around us frequently. She was an amazing woman, loving and caring. Her delightful smile would light up any room that she entered. Brites was the perfect example that life was grand and any bad obstacle that would come towards her, she would not fear it. She knew how to handle it with so much passion, forgiveness and love. She will be missed, and my heart still aches in sadness.”
Sylvie Longtin, the owner and sushi chef at Pointe Claire’s Avocado restaurant, recalls visiting Machado at her restaurant for many years, adding: “I’m in total shock, I saw her about a month ago. She was super nice and friendly, and we talked about the restaurant business often. She was looking to finally retire.”
A funeral service is planned for Machado on Friday at the Belvedere Funeral Complex in Senneville.