Dead Toronto cyclist identified

The cyclist killed Monday in a collision with a car on Toronto's Bloor Street has been identified as Darcy Allan Sheppard, 33.

Originally from Edmonton, Sheppard worked for a city courier service and was also the father of an infant son.

Michael Bryant, a former Ontario attorney general and the current CEO of Invest Toronto, has been charged with criminal negligence causing death and dangerous driving causing death.

During rush hour Tuesday, about 100 bicycle riders staged a brief protest near the site of the collision by laying down their bicycles on Bloor Street, blocking it off.

A memorial has also sprung up near the stretch of road where the incident happened. 

One of Sheppard's good friends, Harry Padilla, stopped by the memorial on Tuesday afternoon to tape a bike courier receipt to a tree near where Sheppard died. 

"It's sad," he said in a mix of Spanish and English. "He was a good guy. He was a good friend."

Courier Ron Berard said Sheppard was "a big joker … an aspiring comedian." Berard called the events of Monday night "a tragedy."

Police said Sheppard died after being involved in a "minor collision" with a black Saab convertible near Bay and Bloor streets.

The incident escalated, with Sheppard holding onto the car while the driver apparently tried to dislodge him, police said.

Sheppard lost his grip and fell under the car. He was run over and badly injured. He died a few hours later at Toronto's St. Michael's Hospital.

In a brief statement after leaving the downtown Toronto police station where he was held, Bryant, 43, offered his "deepest condolences to the family of Mr. Sheppard."