TTC to speed up review of drivers following girl’s fatal hit & run
Posted December 22, 2014 12:43 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Grief counsellors were at a Scarborough high school and the TTC said it was speeding up its review on how drivers are recruited and trained after a teen was struck and killed by a city bus on Friday.
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said support services were made available Monday at Woburn Collegiate Institute for students and staff following the death of Amaria Diljohn, 14.
“It’s a very sad time for our school and it’s a shocking event for a lot of people,” said Woburn principal Karen Hume.
“And being a Grade 9 (student) it affects some of our youngest students so it’s very hard for them.”
“We are crying our eyes out at just how shocking it was,” said English teacher Sheldeen Schoberg. “We are just so sad.”
Amaria was crossing the street at Finch Avenue East and Neilson Road just before 6 p.m. on Friday when she was hit by a TTC bus that failed to remain at the scene. Its 27-year-old driver later surrendered to police.
Relatives say Amaria was making her way home from the last day of school before Christmas break when she was struck.
The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.
On Sunday, a vigil was held at the corner where she was struck.
On Monday, TTC CEO Andy Byford said a review of operator recruitment, training, re-certification and monitoring programs would be accelerated in light of the tragedy.
“The tragic death of Amaria Diljohn Friday evening has shaken all of us at the TTC,” said Byford in a release.
Byford later spoke to CityNews, saying, “Given the tragic events it seems only right…that we should expedite it and make the outcome of that review public.”
The TTC said the review began several weeks ago after reports of TTC vehicles running red lights.
The commission released a statement on Saturday saying it is ”co-operating fully with police in their investigation. The bus has been identified and video from the bus downloaded to aid in the investigation.”
No charges have been laid.
With files from Natalie Duddridge
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story quoted Jack Lochand, who said he had trained TTC drivers. The TTC has no affiliation with this man. His quotes have been removed.
