Why was witness statement taken almost 3 weeks after woman killed by hit-and-run cyclist?
'It's just way too late,' says crash witness who believes police should have looked earlier for cyclist
A Toronto woman is questioning why it took police nearly three weeks to interview her after she said she saw a cyclist flee from the scene of a collision that killed an 84-year-old woman.
Nano Khoury, the owner of Hair Spa on Parliament Street, said she witnessed a crash from her storefront window on the afternoon of Sept. 24 but police didn't ask her for a statement until this past week — nearly three weeks later.
"They should be more on point doing faster work, I think," Khoury said, doubting the description she relayed to police. "How can you find someone who looks so similar to other people and they took [a] very long time to try and find him."
Khoury said she ran to help the woman, after she and her 75-year-old husband were struck.
"She was right on the ground, she couldn't move... and she was screaming. It was pretty tragic. It was very terrifying," Khoury said.
Khoury remained on the scene when paramedics and police showed up to take the couple to the hospital. The elderly woman, Shirley Irving, died in hospital Oct. 6, police say. Irving's husband, Ray, sustained minor injuries.
Lapse in time 'nature of the investigation'
Speaking to CBC News, a spokesperson for Toronto police said multiple witness statements were taken at the scene and that after reviewing initial statements, investigators decided they needed more public assistance, issuing a news release on Oct. 13.
"There has been a lapse of time since the actual accident occurred and the release of us appealing to the public," said Const. Jenifferjit Sidhu.
"That's just the nature of the investigation and us gathering all the information."
Sidhu says the area was canvassed extensively as police looked for further witnesses, and security camera video.
In last Thursday's release, police said the cyclist is described as a white man, approximately 5' 8" with a heavy build, possibly wearing a green bicycle helmet.
Lost chance to find cyclist, friend says
Patricia Poulin, who is a friend and neighbour of the Irvings, is angry. She says the amount of time that has passed between the accident and the news release may mean the cyclist is never found.
"Very angry; I mean this woman died and it seems like it's really not being treated seriously enough," said Poulin. "It's just way too late.
Police say several people witnessed the collision, and some spoke to the man on the bicycle before he took off.
Poulin said Shirley Irving suffered multiple fractures, including to her pelvis.
She had internal bleeding and died in the intensive care unit just days before Thanksgiving.
Poulin has taken care packages over to Ray Irving, who suffered only minor injuries. Poulin says he is "struggling" with the tragic loss.
The elderly couple was not at a crosswalk when they were struck. They were trying to get to a restaurant across the street, Poulin said.
But, she said, had a vehicle struck a pedestrian that sent someone to hospital in critical condition, the police investigation would have been more thorough..
"It's the police's responsibility to investigate a hit-and-run accident," she said. "A bicycle is no different from a car in that regard and in this case the outcome was horribly tragic and they may have lost the opportunity to catch the person who left the scene."
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