An off-duty Toronto police officer out riding his motorcycle is dead after colliding with a dump truck on Highway 7 in Vaughan.
The officer has been identified as Const. Riccardo Torchia. He worked in 23 Division and had been on the job for several years.
The accident occurred at 2:05 p.m. on Highway 7 between Highway 427 and County Road 50, just east of the Claireville Conservation Area.
The dump truck had been travelling eastbound on Highway 7 while the motorcycle had been travelling west, according to Sgt. Lori Perks of York Regional Police.
“The dump truck turned and somehow the motorcycle collided with (it),” she said.
York’s police collision reconstruction unit is investigating the crash, she said.
Aerial images from the scene show the wreckage of the motorcycle, which appears to have caught fire as a result of the collision. A blue tarp covered a body nearby.
A second motorcycle could be seen parked near the crash scene. It is believed the driver of that motorcycle had been out for a ride with Torchia.
Fire crews had responded to the scene, as well as police officers from nearby Peel region.
Police closed traffic ramps at Highway 427 and Highway 7 West. Northbound and southbound lanes at Highway 7 West and County Road 50 were also closed.