Family of victim killed after man fell from Toronto's Leaside Bridge sues city over lack of suicide barriers
Harold Lusthouse died last year after being crushed by a man who fell from the bridge onto his car below
WARNING: This story contains discussion of suicide.
Last month, Tali Uditsky tearfully addressed Toronto city councillors, telling the story of her father's tragic death after his car was struck by a man plummeting from the Leaside Bridge.
Uditsky said Harold Lusthouse, 76, had been on his way to meet her for a Father's Day brunch in June when someone lept from the bridge toward the Don Valley Parkway. The man landed on Lusthouses's car, crushing him in the passenger seat.
"He was stolen away from us ... as a result of the failure of the city to protect its citizens," Uditsky told councillors in April, just before they unanimously voted to press city staff to speed up barrier installation.
Uditsky and her family are now suing the city for the lack of suicide barriers along the bridge, which the lawsuit alleges would have prevented Lusthouse's death.
Lusthouse died in hospital days after the incident, suffering "catastrophic personal injuries" and undergoing multiple medical procedures "accompanied by great pain and suffering," according to the lawsuit.
Uditsky, along with Lusthouse's son and two grandchildren, are listed as the plaintiffs in the suit. They are suing the city for a total of $1.7 million dollars as well as potential future legal costs.
A city spokesperson told CBC they received the statement of claim and will respond in due course.
"The City has no further comment as the matter is before the court," they wrote in an email.
None of the allegations in the lawsuit have been tested in court.
The lawsuit alleges Lusthouse's death was caused by the negligence of the city, which had a duty to ensure the bridge was safe for the public, including the vehicles passing below it.
"[The city] knew or ought to have known that the Leaside Bridge was a 'high-risk location' for incidents," the lawsuit says.
There were 17 suicides or attempted suicides from the Leaside Bridge in 2023, nine in 2024 and none in 2025 as of April 28, according to police figures.
The suit also alleges the city hired "incompetent employees, servants and/or agents to carry out monitoring, inspection, and/or maintenance," of the bridge, adding that staff were not properly trained. It also alleges the city failed to have trained staff handling the bridge's record-keeping.
It claims the city didn't follow up on or implement recommendations made by its chief medical officer and Transportation Service in 2018. They had separately warned about the bridge's dangers and advised the city to look into safety measures, according to the lawsuit.
"The City of Toronto, through its failure to protect the public despite numerous warnings calls, has acted with reckless indifference and/or willful blindness," the lawsuit says.
Family deprived of Lusthouse's 'comfort, guidance, and companionship'
Lusthouse's family members are also claiming damages for the emotional and financial impact of his loss.
The lawsuit says they've "suffered and will continue to suffer from nervous and emotional shock, mental anguish, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression," in the aftermath of his death.
It says they "have been deprived of the benefit of their father/grandfather Harold's care, comfort, guidance, and companionship."
Along with the costs of Lusthouse's funeral and counselling for the family, they also claim damages for the loss of support from Lusthouse, financial or otherwise.
His estate is claiming damages for the suffering he went through leading up to his death.
The lawsuit made reference to the Bloor Street Viaduct bridge, which was once the second most-used suicide site in North America after San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. After suicide barriers were installed there in 2003, suicides dropped from around nine per year to near zero, according to a 2017 University of Toronto study.
A feasibility study on the Leaside Bridge has been underway since 2016, when the city planned to install suicide barriers on all major Toronto bridges, Coun. James Pasternak previously told CBC.
It could take years until construction for suicide barriers begins under the current plan. In April, city councillors gave staff until Sept. 26 to come up with a plan to install a temporary one.
If you or someone you know is struggling, here's where to get help:
-
Canada's Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988.
-
Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868. Text 686868. Live chat counselling on the website.
-
Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention: Find a 24-hour crisis centre.
-
This guide from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you're worried about.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
