17-year-old girl fatally struck by vehicle in Toronto identified by friends
Friends of a Grade 12 student who was fatally struck by a vehicle while crossing a Scarborough intersection on Tuesday say they are processing her passing.
According to police, the 17-year-old was crossing Danforth Avenue, near Birchmount Road, around 11:45 a.m. when a car made a left-hand turn and hit her. She was rushed to the hospital but later died.
The 40-year-old driver involved remained at the scene and was “obviously in shock and upset,” investigators said.
On Wednesday, students at Birchmount Park CI identified the teen as Nadia Mozumder.
“She always had a smile on her face, no matter the day, good or bad, always bringing smiles to everybody else’s faces,” one student said.
“It is really sad for us, I’m still coping because I know her,” another student said. “It is still hurting.”
Nadia Mozumder is seen in this undated photograph provided to CTV News Toronto.
Anton Skerritt, the centrally-assigned principal for caring and safe schools at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), called the incident “extremely tragic.”
“This young lady is fondly remembered by students here,” he said on Wednesday outside of the school. “It’s all hands on deck to support that students that remain here.”
“She was well liked and well loved, fondly thought of here and will be fondly remembered.”
Mozumder was in her final year of high school, which meant that many students and staff at Birchmount Park knew her well.
“It is absolutely devastating to these kids. Just devastating. I saw staff huddled together, again four years going to a school, you are going to be well known,” TDSB spokesperson Shari Schwartz-Maltz said.
DRIVERS TEND TO SPEED IN AREA, COUNCILLOR SAYS
Speaking with NEWSTALK 1010’s Moore in the Morning on Wednesday, the city councillor for the area said that his heart breaks for the student’s family and friends.
“She won't be going to school today and it breaks all of our hearts that this has happened,” Gary Crawford said. “I'm working very closely with police as they are investigating to see what happened at the intersection.”
Emergency crews investigate a fatal collision in Scarborough on Oct. 19, 2021.
Neighbours told CTV News Toronto that speeding is an issue near that intersection, a fact that Crawford confirmed Wednesday.
“Whether or not that is the issue of how this accident happened, we have to determine that, but there is a tendency for cars to be going faster along Kingston Road as they start getting out of the downtown core. So what do we do about that?”
Crawford said the city has already increased the number of red light cameras across Toronto, including in his ward, as well as speed cameras. He said that an increase in crossing guards and enforcement in the area would be something the city may consider depending on the results of the police investigation.
“We are looking at, very aggressively looking at, this intersection and a few others in the area to ensure, ‘What can we do?’”
Area resident Kevin Rupasinghe said that he was not surprised an incident like this occurred in the area.
“It doesn’t feel like a surprise just given it’s a highway right next to a high school, there is a community centre there, a church, people really do treat this like a race track.”
Toronto Mayor John Tory said that his “heart sinks” every time a fatality is reported on the road.
“I used to get a phone call before it's on the news, and my heart sinks and all it does is redouble my determination with my colleagues to continue to have even more of the measures that we have introduced,” he said.
“I really would just plead with people when they see these preventable deaths … that (it) doesn't matter how old people are. It's deaths that are preventable, and we're going to do more as a city, but we have to count on a partnership, a real partnership with people who are driving cars and trucks and other vehicles to take greater care to slow down to be more careful to not engage in distracted driving.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Israel attacks Iran, Reuters sources say; drones reported over Isfahan
Israel has attacked Iran, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters, as Iranian state media reported early on Friday that its forces had destroyed drones, days after Iran launched a retaliatory drone strike on Israel.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.