Manny Rodrigues Photo / ©2010 TSB

TORONTO – This was perhaps one of the busiest weeks for me out on the streets. From fatal vehicle crashes to serious stabbings it seems that the stars aligned in an odd way this past week for the unfortunate victims.

It started out with a fatal accident on Hwy. 427 last Sunday, when a taxi driver was ran over by an SUV while standing outside his cab waiting for police to arrive. He had been hit by a car already and had called for police to come and investigate. That first suspect vehicle had fled the scene. It almost seems that his destiny had been marked on that day.

Both the driver of the first vehicle, and the driver of the SUV that killed him have been apprehended and charged.

On Sunday evening another tragedy. This time a robber fleeing from police on the streets of Scarborough crashed into a vehicle with five family members killing one of them. Police officers had just called off the pursuit, but Mr. Idiot decided that he better keep going and if that meant running a red light and killing someone so be it. He crashed his van at the intersection of Lawrence Ave. E. and Pharmacy Ave. The aftermath was horrendous with several vehicles being involved in the collision.

This career criminal, who had just gotten out of jail a couple of days earlier, was arrested on scene.

If you think that police cruisers are immune to accidents think again. On Tuesday a 41 Division cruiser was involved in a severe accident on Eglinton Ave. E. that sent three to hospital, including the two officers on board. Witnesses claim the cruiser ran a red light striking the other vehicle as it was turning onto Ionview Rd. but the accident is still under investigation. The good thing is that injuries were minor and the officers are expected to be back on duty in the near future.

Thursday early morning was a nightmare for officers at 41 Division…again. Having dealt with the fatal crash on Lawrence Ave. E. and the Departmental accident just in the past few days, they now had another fatality on the road. This time Mr. Idiot II decided that it would be fun to drive on Pharmacy Ave. at Mach 3 with a car full of his ‘friends’. Posted speed limit: 40Kmh. Needless to say, he lost control at some point sending the car flying into a pole. Nicole Quinn-Ignagni, 19 years old, mother of an 18-month-old baby was killed instantly after being ejected from the vehicle. Three others were treated for injuries including the driver, Donald LePage, who had fled the scene and showed up at a local hospital later.

Donald  LePage, 18, was arrested and is charged with a slew of offenses, including driving without a license.

The week finished off with a man driving into the lobby of a building on Forest Parkway Dr. while allegedly trying to run over his wife, a man stabbed in the back near a bar on St. Clair Ave. E. near Oakwood, and a fire that left a family with no home on Versend Dr. near York Mills Rd. and Victoria Park Ave. In perspective, these were ‘minor’ events compared to the other incidents throughout the week.

The local newspapers did pick some of Toronto Street Beat’s photos to run on their publications. Both the Sun and the Star ran the photos from the Hwy. 427 crash and the police cruiser accident. The Sun also ran the stabbing photo today. Toronto Community News ran a photo from the Pharmacy Ave. fatal crash.

Although I profited from the above incidents, I’d like to make it clear to those who wonder (and many do wonder) that in a way I do not ‘like’ busy weeks- especially the ones that claim innocent lives. And this past week, THREE innocent people were killed and families destroyed all because of inconsiderate, moronic individuals…all of them nearly uninjured.

I will write more about that in the near future.

This is also the first time that I’m writing about my experience out on the streets, and adding a little commentary as well. I’m also willing to answer questions from you, just use the comment box below.

Till next time…stay safe!

Manny Rodrigues