Students at St. Raphael Catholic School in North York still walk by tributes to 5-year old Camila Torcato on their way to class. The teddy bears, candles, and flowers are still piled high along the fence that runs adjacent to Ianhall Rd., at the school’s south side.
Torcato, a classmate who survived a battle with cancer when she was only 3 years old, died on January 15th, after she and her father were pinned between a runaway vehicle that had rolled down street, and the family’s car.
The driver had gotten out of the vehicle to pick up their child, and had left the engine running. Torcato was being picked up from school, too — along with many of her classmates.
Toronto Police have not laid charges in Torcato’s death but officials will not rule out that possibility until the ongoing investigation is complete. Const. Clint Stibbe says the investigators’ theory surrounding what went wrong will only be shared in the event that charges are laid.
Some parents who have children at St. Raphael told NEWSTALK 1010 in the aftermath of the mishap that an already narrow street is made even tighter — to the point of being treacherous — by parents who break the school zone parking rules during pick-up and drop-off times.
There were also concerns about speeding vehicles, and drivers who let their vehicles idle unattended during the morning and afternoon rush, as they walk their kids to the doors. Traffic cops and parking enforcement teams were sent to the area in the weeks that followed, warning and ticketing drivers who broke the rules.
Students at St. Raphael CS in North York still pass tributes to 5-year old Camila Torcato. She died last month after she was pinned between 2 vehicles. Parents tell @NEWSTALK1010 driver behaviour has improved but could be better. pic.twitter.com/XIiTZSf24b
— NEWSTALK1010 (@NEWSTALK1010) February 15, 2018
A visit to the street by NEWSTALK 1010 on Thursday reveals that while many parents feel there has been an improvement in driver behaviour, there are still stories of carelessness.
“It seems like people are more cautious now, which is a relief,” says Dominic, as he walks his young daughter to the school yard.
“I know (after the collision) parking control would come to the neighbourhood a few times a week and people took notice ... it helped, but it could be better.”
Sabrina, whose son attends Grade 4 at St. Raphael, says she won’t let him walk to school alone because she fears what could go wrong.
“It’s like nothing happened,” she says, “everything is going back to normal and that bothers me.”
Mary Augimeri, the city councillor that represents the area, said last month that the city has recently taken steps to improve street signage in the area, in an effort to make the parking restrictions more obvious.
Police officials were not able to say how long it might take to complete the investigation into Torcato’s death.