Ontario’s cycling fatalities to be scrutinized
Coroner to put velo-deaths under the microscope
Ontario coroner Dan Cass will lead a thorough review of cycling deaths in the province, 75 from 2006 to 2010. Toronto’s cycling fatalities were last investigated in 1998, which hasn’t prevented the metropolis from having the worst collision rate for a large Canadian city: 47 per 100 000 people.
Notably, Cass’s investigation will include the infamous death of volatile Toronto bike courier Darcy Sheppard, who was dragged and slammed to death by former provincial attorney-general Michael Bryant’s Saab after the two got into an altercation on the street. Many believe that Bryant got off scot-free, and the case gained the attention of the international press, once again highlighting the tension between cyclists and motorists in a city with a notoriously anti-cycling mayor.
Most recently, Danielle Nacu was killed on Queen Street in Ottawa by a parked car’s opened door.
“We’re hopeful that things can be identified and will arise from this review that will help us make recommendations to prevent deaths,” said Cass, the Regional Supervising Coroner for Toronto-West.
