Cyclist remembered as ‘sensational human being’
Location of collision known by some to be dangerous spot
A cyclist who died after being struck by a driver on Monday morning was a “sensational human being” and father of three, according to his cycling club.
Morning Glory Cycling Club president and co-founder Fraser Chapman said Vlad Zotov was the cyclist who died and a member of the club for “many years.” He described Zotov as a man who loved life and had an infectious smile.
“Vlad was always there five minutes early with a big smile on his face … He was a sensational human being,” Chapman said.
According to police, they received a report at around 9:25 a.m. that a 59-year-old man was riding his bike northbound on Bayview Avenue, near the Don Valley Parkway off ramp, when he collided with a vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, a 38year-old man in a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport, was exiting the DVP to northbound on Bayview Avenue when the collision occurred.
The collision caused the cyclist to fall and caused “significant injuries,” police said in news release. The man later died in hospital.
Police continue to investigate and ask local residents, businesses and drivers who may have security or dash cam footage of the area or the incident to reach out to police.
Chapman described the incident as “beyond words” and said the close-knit club is mourning the loss. “It’s just heartbreaking … this is a tragedy that could have been avoided,” he said.
He said he believed Zotov was on a personal bike ride at the time, on his way home from a morning exercise.
Dede and Michael Barry, the owners of Mariposa Bicycles, said Zotov was a customer at their store. They said they were extremely saddened to hear of the incident.
“I have been at that intersection myself and it’s scary because the cars come off those ramps at really high speed,” Dede said.
Michael said he is also familiar with the stretch of road where police say the incident happened and characterized it as “not a good spot.” He said while there is a separate bike lane for cyclists, it’s sometimes obstructed by debris and there’s a section that is often slippery, which encourages some to ride on the main road. “Overall, that whole area is pretty bad for cyclists. But it’s also reflective of a problem across the city,” he said.
Howard Chang, a cyclist who rides nearby three to four times a week, said he came across the scene before EMS arrived. He said he finds the separated bike lane nearby “treacherous” because it’s poorly maintained.
He said there’s often broken glass on the separated bike lane and it sometimes gets flooded and slick.
“It’s a sketchy part … I’ve personally had a number of close calls on the intersection, and that’s simply why I won’t ride it anymore.”
The incident marks the third death of a cyclist in Toronto this year.