New Footage Released in Markham Hit-and-Run Incident

A 19-year-old woman remains in critical condition in hospital after being struck in Markham back in February during a hit-and-run, and police are hoping that new footage will assist them in locating the driver.

In a news release on Tuesday, York Regional Police stated that the woman was hit before 3:41 p. m. at the intersection of Denison Street and Featherstone Avenue on February 19.

The woman was discovered about 50 metres east of the intersection after being hit and carried on the car’s hood. Paramedics transported her to a trauma centre with life-altering injuries, where she continues to receive care.

Video shared by police on You Tube Tuesday features a 2016 to 2020 Aegean Blue, four-door Honda Civic with winter tires hitting the pedestrian.

The video also tracks the suspect’s route leading up to the crash. In it, the suspect drives into oncoming traffic, runs a red light at Middlefield Road, then turns northbound. The driver is later seen heading eastbound on Highglen Avenue in what police describe as “dangerous” behavior.

Driver was behaving erratically, say police

“Now this vehicle, we can see in some of the video we put out, driving massively erratically – some of the most aggressive video that I have seen just in residential streets,” said Const. James Dickson, spokesperson for York Regional Police, during an interview on Tuesday.

“We know there’s a lot of people out. This area is very busy with foot traffic, and frankly it’s a miracle that there are no school kids out at this time,” he added.

Dickson mentioned that police hope releasing this video will encourage members of the public to step forward and help identify the driver.

“We want make it available to everyone so they can see just how egregious this driving was and just how serious this is,” Dickson explained.

“We know there’s no doubt at all that the driver of this vehicle knows that they hit someone, knows that they carried them for 50 metres and knows that they have caused life-altering injuries to this person,” he said.

“We are making a massive public appeal for this person to turn themselves in.”

Investigators specifically urge drivers who were near the area and may have dashcam footage or vehicles equipped with continuous-loop recording systems like Tesla models to come forward.

‘You will be identified,’ police warn driver

In a direct message aimed at the driver within their release, police stated: “You were involved in a serious collision which left a young pedestrian with life-changing injuries. Fleeing from the scene makes you criminally liable for a serious offence.”

“We are urging you to seek legal advice and turn yourself in. Police have video of your vehicle and your route – you will be identified.”

Police remind everyone that anyone aiding the suspect by “concealing, repairing or altering the vehicle to avoid detection” could face charges as an accessory after the fact.

This includes anyone who performs or arranges bodywork, paintwork or mechanical repairs meant to hide damage caused during the collision, according to police statements.

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