A teenage girl was killed by a Toronto Transit Commission bus while she was crossing a street on Dec. 19. Although the teen was declared dead at the scene of the accident, investigators are still not sure whether the bus driver knew that the girl had been struck. After hitting the girl, the bus driver reportedly continued to travel without stopping.
The fatal pedestrian accident took place while the victim was attempting to cross Neilson Road near East Finch Avenue at about 5:40 p.m. At the same time, a 27-year-old TTC bus driver was making a right turn onto East Finch Avenue. Police say that the driver failed to remain at the accident scene, and the driver may receive criminal charges as a result.
According to reports, the bus driver visited a police station on the night of the accident. Police conducted an interview, but the driver was not immediately taken into custody. Video footage from the bus is being used in the investigation to determine what occurred. The TTC and the bus driver are reportedly cooperating with the investigation while it is ongoing.
There are some fatal motor vehicle accidents that do not necessarily result in criminal charges. However, the family of a deceased victim may file a wrongful death claim against the driver at fault regardless of the outcome of a criminal case. Many families in this situation choose to seek help from a lawyer while they are putting together a claim. A lawyer might be able to help gather all pertinent evidence and ensure that the claim is filed in a timely manner.
Source: The Huffington Post, “TTC Bus Hits, Kills Scarborough Teen, Driver Fails To Remain At Scene“, December 20, 2014
