Toronto’s Rachel Wharton was struck by an officer in a Toronto Police Services (TPS) cruiser with enough force that her phone flew out of her hand but the officer initially denied making contact reports the Toronto Star and The Biking Lawyer.
TPS 🧵 It is your obligation to pull over and exchange information in the event of a collision. It’s also the right thing to do to ensure the person you hit receives cautionary medical attention as they may be in shock. You don't just drive away officer…1/3 pic.twitter.com/ThB5zC0yd8
— The Biking Lawyer (Dave Shellnutt) (@TheBikingLawyer) February 21, 2024
A dash cam video, by another driver who witnessed the incident, shows Wharton crossing the intersection with a clear red light for oncoming traffic and the police cruiser turns into the intersection and appears to strike Wharton.
That has now been shared on social media by The Biking Lawyer, Dave Shellnut, who represents injured cyclists and pedestrians, noting that police initially denied that there was any contact.
“Under the Highway Traffic Act, people involved in a collision — whether between vehicles or a vehicle and a pedestrian — are required to report the incident and exchange insurance information,” said Shellnut.
Read the full report here.
