Former Ontario AG Bryant charged in cyclist's death
Posted by FLATOUT JIM in cyclist killed
The man once touted as a future premier of Canada's largest province is now facing charges involving the death of a cyclist on one of Toronto's busiest streets.
"Michael James Bryant, 43 years of age, of Toronto, is now charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death," said Toronto police Sgt. Tim Burrows at an impromptu news conference outside the headquarters of the force's traffic division.
The cyclist has been identified as Darcy Allan Sheppard, 33, of Toronto.
When I first heard about this story, I immediately jumped to my cyclist biased conclusion. Another idiot driver blowing through the streets, probably with a buzz on, or probably with his cell phone glued to his ear, runs down another cyclist.
But now there are a few more details coming out. And I think now I am more pissed off than I was before.
Police are now reviewing surveillance tapes, and interviewing witnesses, and are piecing together a different story. The collision between Sheppard’s bike, and Bryant’s car wasn’t the cause of Sheppard’s death. He died from injuries sustained after Bryant’s car with Sheppard hanging onto it struck a mailbox and a tree, and maybe even ran over Sheppard.
If Bryant is guilty of actions that caused the death of Sheppard, that’s one issue. But if Sheppard crashed into Bryant, in the dark, at about 9:45pm, then confronted him and tried to grab him or the wheel of the car while Bryant tried to drive away, that’s a whole other issue.
Cyclists and motorists have to share the roads, and when actions of one or both groups infringes on the rights and safety of the other, nobody wins. It certainly doesn’t help our case with removing rumble strips from the Trans Canada Highway.
I am sure we will hear more on this in the next couple of days. Stay tuned.
