A 30-year-old man who was killed in a motorcycle collision in North York was a Toronto firefighter, sources confirmed to CP24 on Thursday.
Police received reports of a crash at Leslie Street and Corning Road before 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening.
Toronto police said a 30-year-old man was driving a 2004 Suzuki motorcycle northbound on Leslie Street, near Corning Road. Around the same time, a 46-year-old man, who was driving a 2001 Jeep, was exiting a private driveway on the west side of Leslie Street.
As the Jeep pulled out of the driveway, it struck the northbound motorcycle, according to police.
The motorcycle rider – identified Thursday as Stuart Bryan – was taken to hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The driver of the Jeep was not injured.
On Thursday, Bryan’s girlfriend Athena Pantaleo told CTV News Toronto that he was supposed to be home last night.
“I’m numb. Sometimes I’m just sitting here saying nothing with friends and family,” Pantaleo said. She had spoken to him about 20 minutes before he was supposed to leave to go to a friend’s house. When he didn’t make it, the concerned friend called Pantaleo. Toronto police later went to the fire hall to inform them of the death.
Bryan is described as an energetic, compassionate and positive person by his friends.
The Toronto Professional Firefighters Association posted a notice on its website calling Stuart’s death “sudden and tragic.”
According to his social media accounts, Stuart was also a bodybuilder and graced the cover of the 2017 Toronto Firefighters Calendar.
Our sincere condolences to friends and family of active member FF Stuart Bryan who passed earlier today. In our hearts & minds… #Toronto
— Toronto Firefighters (@TPFFA) April 27, 2017
Police continue to investigate the deadly crash and are asking anyone with information to contact police at 416-808-1900.