Toronto police now say a 71-year-old cyclist killed near Christie Pits when he swerved to avoid a turning van had the right of way.
Const. Clint Stibbe said on Twitter on Wednesday that the cyclist didn’t have to stop for the van, which was making a left turn on Dupont Street near Christie around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The man, who was wearing a helmet, then swerved to avoid the van and collided with a parked vehicle. He suffered life-threatening injuries and was pronounced dead in hospital.
READ MORE: Cyclist killed after hitting parked car while swerving to avoid turning van: police
Stibbe said Tuesday that investigators believed the cyclist, who was travelling at a high rate of speed of possibly 30 km/h, made the “error that contributed to the collision.” He has now clarified the man wasn’t in the wrong but that “other factors” contributed to the crash.
No charges have been laid and Stibbe said the investigation is ongoing.
Stibbe was criticized by some on Twitter, who said he was too quick to blame the cyclist for the crash.