18-year-old cyclist dead after being hit by cement truck in Toronto, police say

truck on Wednesday.

Duty Insp. Michael Williams said emergency crews were called to the area of Avenue Road and Bloor Street West at 6:18 p.m.

Williams said it appears both the cement truck and cyclist were in the curb lane travelling north on Avenue Road when the truck possibly didn’t give the cyclist enough room and he was struck.

The victim died at the scene. Williams said his next of kin has been notified.

“What we’re appealing to the public is for information. Anyone who has dashcam, anyone who has cellphone video or may have been in the area at the time, please contact 53 division or traffic services,” Williams said.

He said officers were at the scene continuing to investigate.

“They’ve spoken to the driver of the cement truck who is cooperating with them but is quite shaken. It’s a very large truck and apparently other drivers and citizens flagged down the truck driver to alert him to the fact that he’d been in a collision,” Williams said.

He added that with Ontario reopening from months of COVID-19 restrictions, there are more vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians out on the streets.

“So we’re just asking everyone to maybe just slow down a little bit or take a second. You know, maybe take that extra look and try to be safe,” he said.

“With a big truck it’s very difficult to see, but still again it’s very tragic and very preventable and again we’re asking everyone to take that extra second.”

Williams said it’s not clear if there will be charges laid at this point but said the investigation is ongoing and will look at speed and impairment as possible factors. He added that it appears the driver is cooperating and sounds like there aren’t any signs of impairment.