Girl, 15, struck and killed in Scarborough identified by school principal

A 15-year-old girl struck and killed at a crosswalk in Scarborough on Wednesday morning has been identified by her high school principal as Christina Huang.

Huang, a Grade 9 student, died in a "tragic accident," Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute principal Icilda Elliston said in a letter on Wednesday to students and caregivers. 

"Christina Huang was a kind student who enjoyed school and spending time with her friends and family. She will be sorely missed," Elliston said in the letter.

"I know you join with all of us in expressing our deepest condolences to the grieving family on the heart-breaking loss they have suffered."

According to Toronto police duty senior officer Brian Maslowski, police received reports of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle just before 10 a.m. at the intersection of Bridley Drive and Brimwood Boulevard, just north of Finch Avenue E. and McCowan Road.

When officers arrived, they learned that a 15-year-old girl had been hit by a woman driving a black Honda CRV as she was making a left turn at the intersection, Maslowski said. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Our heart goes out to the family of the victim," Maslowski said.

Maslowski said her next of kin had been notified.

The girl had been in the crosswalk on Bridley Drive when she was hit, police later said in a news release Wednesday.

The Honda ultimately crashed into a tree at the intersection, Maslowski said. The driver, a 44-year-old woman, remained on the scene and is cooperating with police, he said. 

Traffic investigators are on scene and are trying to determine exactly what happened, Maslowski said. Drivers should expect delays in the area while the investigation continues.

Police are canvassing the area, he said. Anyone who witnessed the collision or who has video of the area at the time of the incident is asked to contact police.

Road safety an issue in the community, says resident

Although the intersection is located near multiple schools, Asma Khan, who lives in the area, said road safety has been an issue in the community. She said drivers regularly speed and blow through stop signs in the area.

"Even at the crosswalk at school time, people just are not very careful," she said.

Coun. Jamaal Myers, who represents Scarborough North, said in an interview on Wednesday that he would be speaking with police, local schools and city staff to determine what steps can be taken to prevent similar deaths.

"We're just all shocked that this happened in a school safety zone and that the victim was so young. I think that's what has a lot of people really hurting over this death," Myers said.

In a post on X, Myers added: "This is a heartbreaking loss and a painful reminder that we must prioritize road safety in our community, especially in residential neighbourhoods like Brimwood."