cyclist charged with leaving scene after senior dies
could face life
A Mississauga cyclist has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in the death of a senior earlier this month.
Police allege that Michael Kowal, 52, was riding his mountain bike on the sidewalk on Burnhamthorpe Road West near Central Parkway West on June 12 when he struck 71-yearold Shui Fen Chan. The impact left her with a serious brain injury, said Constable Thomas Ruttan or Peel police.
Mr. Kowal allegedly left the scene (a bicycle and baseball cap were found nearby), leaving a passerby to call for help.
Ms. Chan later died during surgery.
Mr. Kowal was arrested Tuesday and charged with failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing death and taken to a Brampton courthouse for a bail hearing. Cycling on the sidewalk is an offence under the Highway Traffic Act and carries an $85 fine. In this case, “the Criminal Code offence was more applicable than a [Highway Traffic Act] offence,” said Const. Matt Smith.
If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.
“I’m not aware of this happening before,” said Const. Smith, a 22-year member of the force. Peel police do not track data on collisions resulting in serious injury or death between cyclists and pedestrians separately from other vehicle accidents.
In August of 2011, 74-year- old Nobu Okamoto was walking on the sidewalk on Finch Avenue West when he was struck by a cyclist. He sustained a fractured skull and internal bleeding from the impact and later died in hospital. The cyclist remained on the scene and was remorseful. He was fined $3.75 for committing a bylaw infraction, but no charges were laid.
That same summer, a Toronto woman had her skull fractured after a cyclist ran a red light while riding against traffic near Spadina Avenue and dundas Street West.