Trucking Life: People
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T.O. Trucker Did Nothing Wrong: Police
Posted: Nov 15, 2011 02:32 PM | Last Updated: Apr 2, 2012 12:11 PM

TORONTO — Politicians might be using the tragic death of a pregnant mom as a springboard for their own purposes but one thing is clear: the driver of the truck involved in the accident did nothing illegal.

Toronto Police announced Tuesday they have investigated the incident and found no reason to lay charges against the truck driver.

The woman was killed on her bicycle last week after it crashed with a truck on one of Toronto’s busiest streets, Dundas West.

The accident took place as the victim, Jenna Morrison, was riding her bike to a daycare center to pick up her child.

She was also pulling a bike trailer, which is used to carry a child. According to media reports, the trailer was also crushed in the crash.

Even though she has no way of knowing what actually happened in the crash, Toronto NDP MP Olivia Chow is attempting to use the crash as a reason to convince Transport Canada to make trailer side guards mandatory. She introduced a Private Members’ Bill to that affect earlier this week.
 

 
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Anonymous

2011/11/18

at 10:15 PM

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More education is needed for the public, and (honestly) more education is needed for many of the new drivers that the Ontario ministry of transportation is licencing. I got my AZ 16 (and counting) years ago and it was laughably easy then, and based on my observations with the new AZ driver mills and continuing lacklustre requirements for training and testing, it seems to have only gotten easier. Yes, under the letter of the law this wasn't the drivers fault, but I think the blame perhaps lies somewhere in the middle - the pedestrian put herself in a situation where she was at risk, and the driver didn't see her do it. In this scenario, there's only one looser. To try to mandate side guards on all trucks because of one tragic accident is rediculous at best, laughable at worst. How many commercial trailers ever see a downtown city core with pedestrians? What about US or interprovincial carriers - are they exempt? It's simply unrealistic, and HARDLY a solution.

Anonymous

2011/11/18

at 9:54 PM

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The driver here did NOTHING illegal, neither according to the strict letter of the law, did the cyclist. However, as drivers, we know the immense blind spots around us and we also know any kind of ill-advised move by another vehicle (including bicycles) can and will occur at any time. If the driver had just taken that extra second to look down the right side of the truck (a 5-ton, not a rig from my understanding) before initiating the turn, perhaps there would have been a vastly different outcome. How do I know? Been there, done that--northbound Leslie off Lakeshore Blvd. E. -- went to make a right onto Eastern Ave. My boss at the time was doing a ride-along and asked why I hesitated as I had the light. Just then, yes, a cyclist. I don't know to this day if I actually saw something, it was intuition, or just blind luck, but the cyclist sailed on through the light on the right side of the truck and I then proceeded with the right hand turn. Bottom line, it cost me maybe an extra 2 seconds and potentially saved someone's life. Yes, so often we are in the right, but what does that matter when a life is lost? Take a couple of extra seconds and watch out for those who refuse to watch out for themselves.

ROBERT McMILLAN

2011/11/18

at 12:04 PM

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As a cyclist and a former employee at a trucking firm, I shuddered as I read this. The driver clearly did something wrong. Was it illegal? Was it preventable? It was tragic. A quick look at a couple of news reports indicates the truck was making a right turn at an intersection, that the bike was close to the curb, and that the "truck's" rear wheels were involved. There is no mention of the bike. Was it stopped? Had it passed on the right? A year ago I witnessed a close call involving one of my employer's tractor / trailers and a bike. I was on a second bike 200 or 300 yards behind the intersection. The rig passed the other bike and at the same time it was slowing from 80 kph to make a right turn. The back end of the trailer just missed the bike (it was doing 20 or 25 kph). I discussed this with the cyclist a few minutes later. She had no idea that she was involved in a near miss. Equally, the truck driver had the same problem. The cyclist failed to notice she was gaining on the truck. The trucker did not process the bike's speed. In this example, I am not sure who would have been illegal. Both were clearly in the wrong and lucky. This was not the case in Toronto. As a cyclist, I am well aware of the risk. And the first vehicle that ever waited for me to reach the crest of a hill on an 80 kph road was a tractor trailer - not a car.

Palladini

2011/11/17

at 11:55 AM

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So, they mandate side guards on trucks. Now a truck goes over some raised railway tracks and crushes the side guards, does he get fined for not having the proper guards on his truck. Idiots at the helm, nothing more than that.

Andre

2011/11/17

at 9:36 AM

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the cylists should be ban from passing any motor vehicles by the right while crossing a street; this would save lives and avoid most of this type of accident.

Anonymous

2011/11/17

at 8:41 AM

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Good Morning, This article is tragic. All of our hearts go out to the family of the woman killed. However, the government should be looking at educating the population to the hazards surrounding the operation of the transport industry. The job of a Professional driver is a very difficult one. People take too much for granted when it comes to safety. They expect a tractor trailer unit to be able to stop on a dime, they do not understand that if you cannot see the driver the driver cannot see you. People have to take responsibility for their actions. How many times have you seen a person riding a bike with earphones listening to music. How safe is that! But, It does not stop them from doing something so stupid. How do you think the driver of the vehicle is feeling right now, How is he dealing with this tragedy. Even though he knows in his heart that he was not at fault, he may never be able to get behind the wheel again. He will continue to punish himself because he will think if there was anything I could have done differently to prevent the incident. The transport industry today has to adhere to so many regulations that unfortunately have been mandated through bleeding hearted people with no understanding of what they are talking about. Wake up and smell the coffee. There are real dangers out there ever day, be aware and make the right choises.Try and understand before you criticize. Thanks,

TOM NITSCH

2011/11/17

at 8:40 AM

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Education and awareness is the key not more onerous legilation. The mantra should be "If you can't see me I can't see you". Unfortunately Jenna didn't understand this and, like most people, wasn't aware of the huge blind spot that exists around all trucks. When will politicians relize that they can't legislate common sense.

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