WEST CHESTER, Ohio -- A Greater Cincinnati family is suffering a second tragedy after a loved one was killed in a collision with a train in West Chester.
Twice, in less than five months, the Shteiwi family suffered the loss of loved ones through car crashes.
In April, Halla and Nazieh Shteiwi were struck head-on by a wrong-way driver on I-75 near Woodlawn.
Now, Hatem Shteiwi's family is preparing to lay their eldest member, Rakan, to rest after his SUV collided with a train in West Chester Tuesday.
"You don't want to believe it," Hatem Shteiwi said.
Rakan Shteiwi was well-known in the restaurant business. He opened five Gold Star Chili franchises and founded the Spinning Fork Italian restaurants. His latest enterprise was the Silver Tee Kitchen & Craft Bar at the Elks Country Club in Liberty Township.
Despite Rakan's strong work ethic, his son, Braheam, said family always came first.
"In the process of never taking a day off, he still got his mom a cup of coffee in the morning, and made sure I did the same for mine," Braheam said.
Hatem and Braheam said their grief has been bearable through the love and support of hundreds of well-wishers.
"I would like to thank the community a lot that supported us the first time and this time, Hatem said. "We could not have done it without them."
Services are being held at the Hodapp Funeral Home Friday at 6 p.m. Mass will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Greek Orthodox Church in Finneytown.
