The disturbing surveillance footage that emerged yesterday showing a pedestrian being struck in Toronto’s Leslieville neighborhood has sparked renewed calls for traffic safety measures in the east-end community.
I spent the morning speaking with residents and business owners along Queen Street East, where the incident occurred Tuesday evening around 6:30 p.m. The video, which several shop owners shared with me, shows a dark-colored vehicle striking a pedestrian crossing at Queen and Booth Avenue before speeding away from the scene.
“I heard the screeching tires and then people shouting,” said Maria Kostadinov, who runs a small bakery near the intersection. “By the time I got outside, someone was already calling 911, and others were trying to help the person on the ground. It was terrifying.”
Toronto Police confirmed the victim, a 42-year-old man, sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby trauma center. As of this morning, investigators are still searching for the driver who fled westbound on Queen Street.
Detective Constable Sandra Pinto from Traffic Services told me they’re looking for a dark blue Honda Civic with front-end damage. “We’re urging anyone with information or additional footage to come forward. The driver knows what they did, and it’s only a matter of time before we identify them.”
This incident adds to growing safety concerns in the area. City data shows the Queen and Booth intersection has seen eight serious collisions in the past three years, three involving pedestrians.
Local councillor Paula Fletcher expressed frustration when we spoke by phone this afternoon. “We’ve been pushing for additional traffic calming measures along this stretch for years. This isn’t just about enforcement – it’s about street design that prioritizes safety for everyone.”
The Leslieville Business Improvement Area has been advocating for reduced speed limits and improved crosswalks since 2020. Their chair, Devon Harrison, showed me their detailed proposal submitted to the city last fall.
“Queen East has gotten busier with development and tourism, but the infrastructure hasn’t kept pace,” Harrison explained as we walked the stretch where the incident occurred. “When businesses see people afraid to cross the street, that affects everyone.”
Traffic safety experts from the City of Toronto’s Vision Zero program note that hit-and-run collisions often occur during peak hours when drivers are rushing.
The witness video, while disturbing, provides valuable evidence for investigators. It clearly shows the vehicle failing to yield at the marked crosswalk despite the pedestrian having the right of way. What’s particularly concerning is the speed at which the driver fled, creating additional danger for others in the area.
Several residents I interviewed mentioned the need for automated speed enforcement cameras on this stretch of Queen East, similar to those installed near schools and community centers elsewhere in Toronto.
“We shouldn’t need someone to get hurt before basic safety measures are implemented,” said long-time resident Aisha Bajwa, who witnessed the aftermath of Tuesday’s collision. “My kids walk to school crossing Queen every day. This could have been them.”
Data from Toronto Public Health indicates that pedestrians account for over half of all serious traffic injuries in the city, with vulnerable road users – seniors, children, and those with mobility challenges – at highest risk.
While police continue their investigation, community members are organizing a safety walk for Sunday afternoon to raise awareness about dangerous driving in the neighborhood. Organizers plan to gather at Queen and Booth at 2 p.m., encouraging participants to bring signs advocating for traffic calming measures.
As I finished interviews this afternoon, repair crews were fixing a damaged traffic signal at the intersection – a somber reminder of Tuesday’s events. Despite the serious injuries, locals expressed relief the outcome wasn’t fatal, though many wonder when meaningful safety improvements will arrive.
For now, police are asking anyone with information about the blue Honda Civic or its driver to contact Traffic Services or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
In Leslieville, as elsewhere in Toronto, the balance between moving traffic efficiently and ensuring pedestrian safety remains an ongoing challenge – one that too often comes into focus only after someone is hurt.
