40-yr old woman killed in hit-and-run

Toronto Police investigate a fatal hit-and-run at Kingston Rd. and Warden Ave.( Photo: Nancy L’Estrange)

By Hedy Korbee

Charges have been laid in connection with a hit-and-run collision at the intersection of Kingston Rd. and Warden Ave. that killed an unidentified 41-year old woman.

David Opalka of Toronto, 28, is charged with a number of offences including impaired driving causing death, criminal negligence causing death, over 80 milligrams operation of a motor vehicle and failure to stop at the scene of an accident, according to Toronto Police.  Opalka will appear in court at 10am Friday at 1911 Eglinton Ave. East.

Information about the victim will not be released by police.

Police said they received a call about a personal injury collision at 3:28 Thursday afternoon.

“What we have is a vehicle that was westbound on Kingston Road approaching Warden, which struck a 41-year old woman that was attempting to cross the roadway,” said Const. Clint Stibbe of Toronto Police Traffic Services.  “The vehicle and driver failed to remain at the scene. The 41- year old woman suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.”

Driver fled the scene

Stibbe said the driver fled the scene of the collision but was arrested six kilometres to the east at Queen St. E. and Northern Dancer Blvd., just west of Woodbine Ave.

“So we received information from witnesses regarding a description of the vehicle as well as I understand some other pertinent information or distinctive information regarding the vehicle and as a result a vehicle has been located,” Stibbe said.

The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody, which was caught on video by CP24.  He can be seen have difficulty walking.

Police seeking witnesses

Police are seeking any witnesses who may have seen the accident or seen the vehicle operating in the area of Kingston Rd. and Warden over to Kingston Rd. and Queen. If anyone has video footage they are asked to contact Toronto Police.

Traffic on Kingston and Warden re-opened at 8pm.

Stibbe would not elaborate which way the woman was crossing the intersection because he said that information is part of the investigation.  Her body was on the north side of Kingston Rd. “substantially west” of the intersection.

Christine Lam, owner of the Price Saver market, saw the aftermath of the accident and said that emergency responders performed CPR on the woman for approximately 30 minutes.

Lam is distressed by the number of collisions that she’s seen at the intersection since the store opened just seven weeks ago.  “Ever since I’ve opened there’s been an accident at this intersection every single week. I kid you not, every week.”

Ward 36 Councillor Gary Crawford extended his thoughts and prayers to the victim and her family.

On Facebook, where there is a lively discussion about speeding on Kingston Rd,  Crawford said he will be speaking with police about the investigation over the next few days.  Crawford also said his office has already begun setting up a community meeting as soon as possible in the new year.