A 20-year-old bike owner who was killed on Wednesday in midtown Toronto has been recognized by a member of the family in India.

Kartik Saini, a world scholar, was hit and dragged by the motive force of a white pickup truck on the intersection of Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue at about 4:30 p.m.

Police haven’t but recognized the sufferer. But his cousin informed CBC Toronto on Friday that Saini got here to Canada in August 2021. Parveen Saini spoke from town of Karnal within the northern Indian state of Haryana, the place their household is from.

The household is hoping that Saini’s physique might be despatched to India as quickly as attainable for correct burial, he stated.

Sheridan College has confirmed that he was a scholar there.

“Our community is deeply saddened by the sudden death of Kartik. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, peers and professors,” the faculty stated in an e mail on Friday.

In a information launch on Thursday, police stated the motive force of a Ford F-250 truck was heading west on St. Clair Avenue East and turned proper to go north on Yonge. At the identical time, the bike owner was crossing Yonge eastbound.

“The driver of the Ford pick-up struck the cyclist and continued northbound on Yonge Street with the bike and cyclist lodged underneath the vehicle,” police stated within the launch.

Emergency providers tried to free the bike owner and revive him, however he was pronounced useless on the scene.

Right turns at that intersection are prohibited from 4 p.m. to six p.m. on weekdays, however police haven’t but stated if the motive force might be ticketed or charged.

Toronto police nonetheless investigating

Const. Laura Brabant, spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service, stated there’s nonetheless an lively investigation into the collision.

“The determination on whether charges are laid or not takes time as the investigators have to conduct a full investigation first,” Brabant stated in an e mail on Friday. 

“This takes time and is not a rushed process.”

A makeshift memorial has been arrange on the scene of the collision.

David Shelnutt, a Toronto lawyer who describes himself because the biking lawyer, stated the collision raises many questions and he famous that the bike owner was killed by a “right-turning motorist.”

“As lawyers for injured cyclists who have been “proper hooked” (myself included) we know that motorists frequently fail to properly look out for vulnerable road users,” Shelnutt wrote in an e mail on Friday. 

“Drivers frequently fail to look for cyclists or pedestrians as they race to make a light or beat on oncoming vehicle,” he continued.

“As winter approaches, snow falls, and light conditions vary, we call upon all road users to exercise extreme caution. People cycle year-round in Toronto, please watch out for them, and consider the safety of others over an unnecessary urge to speed through that yellow light or pass that streetcar. Someone’s life could hang in the balance.”

A bunch known as  Advocacy For Respect For Cyclists is organizing a trip in Saini’s honour on Nov. 30.

Participants will meet at 6:00 p.m. at Matt Cohen Park at Bloor Street and Spadina Avenue. The trip departs at 6:30 p.m. and it’ll finish with the position of a ghost bike on the crash web site.