A 22-year-old man accused in the hit-and-run death of a Toronto teacher has been remanded into custody after a brief court appearance Sunday morning.
Miguel Oliveira, a Toronto resident, is charged with failure to remain at the scene of an accident causing death. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Monday morning for a bail hearing.
He turned himself in to police at 11 Division around 9 p.m. on Saturday night, according to Staff-Sgt. Brian Bowman of Toronto Police Traffic Services. Two hit-and-run detectives were sent to the division to investigate, Bowman said.
Oliveira’s charges relate to the death of Tom Samson, a popular Grade 2 teacher at Swansea Public School. The 35-year-old died after being struck by two vehicles on Friday morning while riding through the intersection of Lansdowne Avenue and Davenport Road.
Police said the first driver who hit Samson did not stop. A second driver, however, did stay behind.
Manuel Martins was driving the second vehicle that hit Samson.
Police said Samson was crossing in a pedestrian crosswalk when he was struck and then was dragged across the intersection.
He was rushed to St. Michael’s Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Samson’s death has shocked the Swansea Public School community.
"It's a shock and it's going to take some time to recover from something this,” Jason Martins, whose son attends Swansea, told CTV.
Samson was a married father of two young children. He was a chess and basketball coach at the school and was a terrific teacher, said his principal, Karen Ridley.
In a statement released Sunday, Samson’s family said the young father will be missed.
“Tom was a beloved father, husband, son, brother, friend and teacher. He lived his life to the fullest and without regrets. He loved his wife and children very much, and was passionate about his calling as an elementary school teacher,” the statement read.
His family asks that anyone wishing to make a donation in his name give to the Toronto Public Library Foundation.
Samson's death marks Toronto's third cyclist fatality this year.
A funeral for Samson is set to take place Tuesday at the Artscape Wychwood Barns near St. Clair Avenue and Christie Street.
Members of the public are invited to attend the service, which will begin at 1 p.m.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact police at 416−808−1900, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416−222−TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637).
