January 12, 2011
Motor Vehicle Incident
Toronto Police Service
On January 12, 2011 at approximately 6:10 a.m., an 11-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service, Sgt. Ryan Russell, was struck and killed by a stolen truck with a snow-plow attached to it during a chase in the Avenue Road and Davenport Road area. He suffered severe head injuries and was taken to the downtown hospital, where he succumbed to those injuries.
The truck driver was driving erratically through the streets of Toronto, hitting a number of objects and putting the citizens of Toronto at risk. Sgt. Russell attempted to stop the driver and was hit by the stolen truck. After striking Sgt. Russell, the alleged thief continued driving erratically through the snow-covered city pursued by a number of police units. The driver eventually hit a garbage truck where he was confronted. The driver was shot by police and eventually taken into custody. He was transported to hospital with serious injuries but is expected to recover.
Sgt. Ryan Russell, 35, was married with a young child, Chief Bill Blair of the Toronto Police told reporters Wednesday. “He was out doing his job in the early-morning hours, in the city, [in] a very dangerous situation, and… put his life on the line, and tragically has lost his life doing his job,” Blair said outside St. Michael’s Hospital.
Our condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.