A Toronto police officer was taken to the hospital following a single-vehicle collision at Fort York Blvd and Dan Leckie Way on Saturday morning, resulting in the westbound lanes of Fort York Boulevard being closed for a reconstruction investigation.
David Shellnutt, a.k.a. the Biking Lawyer, posted a video about the incident to X on Sunday. It shows a police cruiser veering into a bike lane and crashing into a pole.
Sadly another @TorontoPolice ?What we’ve witnessed here is both a miracle & wildly serious incident of potential road violence wherein yesterday a TPS officer narrowly missed injuring multiple pedestrians (barring some freak unlikely medical emergency). pic.twitter.com/Hdn0lRWZZA
— The Biking Lawyer (Dave Shellnutt) (@TheBikingLawyer) February 25, 2024
“What we’ve witnessed here is both a miracle & wildly serious incident of potential road violence wherein yesterday a TPS officer narrowly missed injuring multiple pedestrians (barring some freak unlikely medical emergency),” Shellnutt posted. “We are grateful nearby pedestrians were not injured/killed after this officer rolled a stop, cut off a pedestrian, turned into a bike lane, jumped the sidewalk, then hit a massive pole. We’re glad the officer wasn’t seriously injured. We hope they get the support they need.”
Shellnut said he shared the video not to demonize the police, but to ensure police accountability.
“We hope this latest calamity is met w[ith] open discussion, condemnation, & accountability. If this wasn’t a police officer, people would expect this incident to be subject to investigation & if merited, charges,” he posted. “Members of the public were put at serious risk here. It’s important that the public & municipal leaders are kept appraised of the developments of this case & @TorontoPolice publicly reinforce the importance of road safety.”
This is the second video that has surfaced in the past week of a Toronto police officer involved in a road incident. Last week Wednesday, Shellnutt posted a video of what appears to be a Toronto police cruiser striking a pedestrian at a crosswalk (the incident reportedly took place on January 10).
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
“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.” Shellnutt stated with the video post. “We can advise that this pedestrian sustained only minor injuries, thankfully. They later reported to police. TPS did not charge the officer involved (who left the scene) with any infraction”.
According to the Toronto Star, a spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service said the officer behind the wheel engaged with the pedestrian and apologized, but many on social media are demanding more TPS accountability.
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
Because of her fast reflex and agility, she didn’t end up under the police SUV. With deteriorating driving skills combined with distractions and impatience, it’s scary to be a pedestrian or a cyclist on city streets.
— Ravi Balachandran (@Point_Pedro) February 22, 2024
The incidents come following a budgetary spat between the municipal government and the Toronto Police Service.
