Cabbie killed in street race
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Toronto, GTA north
Cabbie killed in street race
When are these kids going to get it.....
A taxi driver was struck and killed by a speeding vehicle on Mt. Pleasant Rd. south of St. Clair Ave. E. last night in what police are calling a street race.
The 47-year-old cab driver was travelling southbound on Mt. Pleasant Rd., waiting to make a left turn, while a pair of Mercedes Benzes were travelling northbound at high rates of speed at 10:20 p.m., police said.
“One of the two vehicles collided with the cab at the intersection of Mt. Pleasant Rd. and Whitehall Rd.,” said Staff Sgt. Haines of Traffic Services. “As a result of the head-on collision, the cab was veered off into a steel light pole, crushing the car and trapping the driver inside.”
The car that struck the cab was damaged. The second car fled the scene, but its driver was apprehended. Only one of the drivers was injured, but his injuries are not serious.
Two 18-year-old drivers were arrested after the crash. Their names have not been released. Police say charges are pending.
The cab driver was declared dead at the scene.
The 47-year-old cab driver was travelling southbound on Mt. Pleasant Rd., waiting to make a left turn, while a pair of Mercedes Benzes were travelling northbound at high rates of speed at 10:20 p.m., police said.
“One of the two vehicles collided with the cab at the intersection of Mt. Pleasant Rd. and Whitehall Rd.,” said Staff Sgt. Haines of Traffic Services. “As a result of the head-on collision, the cab was veered off into a steel light pole, crushing the car and trapping the driver inside.”
The car that struck the cab was damaged. The second car fled the scene, but its driver was apprehended. Only one of the drivers was injured, but his injuries are not serious.
Two 18-year-old drivers were arrested after the crash. Their names have not been released. Police say charges are pending.
The cab driver was declared dead at the scene.
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Yeah - I heard about this on the drive in this morning as well. The 2 kids are being charged with criminal negligence causing death - but I'm guessing they'll get off with something far less punitive.
Mt. Pleasant between Bloor and St.Clair is a great stretch of road, and would be a fun spot to open any vehicle up, but this is exactly why we all have to fight those demons and limit it to just a bit over the limit when having fun - or go to a track to open it up - something I plan on doing this summer.
I doubt they'll put a set of lights there - maybe a flashing amber if there isn't one already - but that won't stop the problem, or bring this person back.
These young men may not be bad people - but they're wreckless behaviour not only endangered - it ended - another persons life. That kind of behaviour is very hard to control or discourage at that age, and I remember feeling somewhat invincible or superhuman in my younger days as well. I'm 40 now, and though nowhere near perfect, I don't take half the chances or act as wreckless as I did 20 years ago.
I think something has to happen in (almost) every younger persons life (16-25) to wake them up to the value of life. I'm not bashing the youth - there's a ton of good ones out there too - IMHO it's just very difficult for them to control their urges - whether it's driving, partying, whatever - everything has to be to the extreme, which can lead to things like this happening - TOTALLY PREVENTABLE with a bit of common sense.
I'm not bashing them for being 18 and driving merc's either - fortunately for the kid that hit the cab, he was wrapped in a very safe vehicle, otherwise he may not have walked away with only a few scratches.
I have a friend that's a metro cop - I'd be curious to know they're speed - I'm sure it was ludicrous for that stretch of road, which I believe is posted at 60 km/h.
No punishment will likely stop this from happening again - but taking away your licence for life for street racing might. Say 40 km/h over the posted limit in any metro area and you're done for good.
Mt. Pleasant between Bloor and St.Clair is a great stretch of road, and would be a fun spot to open any vehicle up, but this is exactly why we all have to fight those demons and limit it to just a bit over the limit when having fun - or go to a track to open it up - something I plan on doing this summer.
I doubt they'll put a set of lights there - maybe a flashing amber if there isn't one already - but that won't stop the problem, or bring this person back.
These young men may not be bad people - but they're wreckless behaviour not only endangered - it ended - another persons life. That kind of behaviour is very hard to control or discourage at that age, and I remember feeling somewhat invincible or superhuman in my younger days as well. I'm 40 now, and though nowhere near perfect, I don't take half the chances or act as wreckless as I did 20 years ago.
I think something has to happen in (almost) every younger persons life (16-25) to wake them up to the value of life. I'm not bashing the youth - there's a ton of good ones out there too - IMHO it's just very difficult for them to control their urges - whether it's driving, partying, whatever - everything has to be to the extreme, which can lead to things like this happening - TOTALLY PREVENTABLE with a bit of common sense.
I'm not bashing them for being 18 and driving merc's either - fortunately for the kid that hit the cab, he was wrapped in a very safe vehicle, otherwise he may not have walked away with only a few scratches.
I have a friend that's a metro cop - I'd be curious to know they're speed - I'm sure it was ludicrous for that stretch of road, which I believe is posted at 60 km/h.
No punishment will likely stop this from happening again - but taking away your licence for life for street racing might. Say 40 km/h over the posted limit in any metro area and you're done for good.
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Toronto, GTA north
The thing that really pi$$es me off, is that it's usually the inocent bystander that gets killed.
The A hole that caused it walks with a few scatches...
The A hole that caused it walks with a few scatches...
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Wasn't something being done about street racing, some crack down or something? It's totally ridiculous that these two kids are going to get like a slap on their wrist for having a brief moment of fun and killing some one.
My memory is a little foggy about that area, but isn't there like a hill or something on the road so one side cannot see what they are coming up to? Or am I thinking of another street? I wonder if that's why the accident happened. Mind you, it still doesn't excuse them.
My memory is a little foggy about that area, but isn't there like a hill or something on the road so one side cannot see what they are coming up to? Or am I thinking of another street? I wonder if that's why the accident happened. Mind you, it still doesn't excuse them.
I have no sympathy for these dumb a$$ punks. I hope they get nailed hard by the judge. They are 18 so no more hiding behind the young offenders act.
Their parents are the ones with the pile of $hit on their lap right now 'cause the insurance company will not pay for anything, cancel their policy and will have a hell of a time finding a carrier that wants to insure them. I hope the victim's family gets a good lawyer and sue them for all they can. SOB!!!!!!
Their parents are the ones with the pile of $hit on their lap right now 'cause the insurance company will not pay for anything, cancel their policy and will have a hell of a time finding a carrier that wants to insure them. I hope the victim's family gets a good lawyer and sue them for all they can. SOB!!!!!!
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Whitehall Rd. is that street at the bottom of both hills on Mt. Pleasant where that little park is on the West side. The visibility should have been pretty good there. At first I thought it was near the train overpass (which could block your vision), but that's a bit further North. I was thinking of Carstowe Rd. which would have "maybe" brought the train overpass into play.
For this to happen at Whitehall, the cabbie must have just started his turn when the mercs came flying over that rise before the decent down to Whitehall. Not much time for anyone to react if the mercs were going fast - obviously the faster they were going, the less reaction time all around, plus it was dark.
For this to happen at Whitehall, the cabbie must have just started his turn when the mercs came flying over that rise before the decent down to Whitehall. Not much time for anyone to react if the mercs were going fast - obviously the faster they were going, the less reaction time all around, plus it was dark.
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Cambridge, Ont. Canada
Originally Posted by usual_suspect
Hope you don't mind, I linked this into Trey's current street racing thread.
Hopefully this tragedy will open a few more eyes here at 'Driver about this dangerous activity.
Condolences to the poor cabbie's survivors.
A very sad day....and a totally avoidable one.
Colin
