One year ago today, a road accident near Chisinau caused the death of Grigore Vieru – a talented poet, a delicate man and a symbol of national liberation. The accident occurred in the early hours of 16 January 2009, when the poet was returning to his Chisinau home from a car trip to Cahul, where he participated in a ceremony honoring Mihai Eminescu. Although the driver, a close friend of Vieru, was reportedly driving his Opel Astra at a speed of 40km/h, the heavy fog disoriented him and he drove the car into a concrete structure at an intersection several kilometers from Chisinau. Vieru, seated next to the driver, suffered severe injuries in the accident and his condition deteriorated rapidly because of two heart attacks suffered earlier. Two days later the poet died in hospital as a result of a heart arrest and kidney failure. Grigore Vieru was buried on 20 January 2009 at the Chisinau Central Cemetery. Tens of thousands attended the ceremony. Several Moldovan schools today are named after the poet. At the same time, the Chisinau Council failed to name a street for the poet, as it was announced one year ago. Another homage paid to Vieru will be the installation of his bust on the Alley of Classics in Chisinau's central park on February 14, his birthday. Grigore Vieru is also honored in neighboring Romania. He was posthumously decorated with the Star of Romania Order in the rank of Grand Cross, as streets and cultural centers were named after him.