A man from Toronto has been arrested in connection with a deadly hit-and-run collision that took place in Scarborough on May 8, 2025. The incident involved a 27-year-old woman who was crossing Birchmount Road just north of St. Clair Avenue East around 9:30 p.m. when she was first struck by a white cargo van.
Tragically, after being hit by the van, she was subsequently run over by a second vehicle identified as a dark SUV. Eyewitness Lawrence Clementes recounted the heart-wrenching scene, explaining that the woman appeared to be in distress and wandering through busy traffic moments before the fatal collisions occurred. He described seeing the woman in white clothing walking into the roadway as the first vehicle approached.
Clementes noted, “Then we saw a vehicle approaching from St. Clair going northbound and, sad to say, he hit the lady. And then, unfortunately, a second vehicle going southbound ran her over.” The urgency of the situation was amplified by the presence of an off-duty firefighter who was in the vicinity and attempted to provide life-saving measures until emergency responders arrived at the scene. Despite those efforts, the woman was pronounced dead shortly after.
Acting Insp. Phillip Sinclair commented on the rarity of such incidents where both vehicles involved do not remain at the scene. He stated, “Very rarely do we have incidents where both vehicles do not remain at the scene, but at this point we know both vehicles struck the pedestrian and did not remain at the scene.” This highlights the severity of the situation, whereby both drivers fled after the collision.
Following the tragic incident, investigators were quick to act. The white cargo van involved was located the next day in the vicinity of Kingston Road and McCowan Road in Scarborough. The driver was identified as 43-year-old Gregory Manzer, a resident of Toronto, and he has since been arrested on November 26, 2025. The charges against him include leaving the scene of an accident causing death and careless driving causing death.
Manzer is scheduled to face court proceedings on January 20, 2026, as the legal process unfolds in relation to this heartbreaking incident. However, the investigation is still ongoing, particularly concerning the second vehicle involved in the collision. Authorities are actively searching for the driver of the dark SUV, which was last seen fleeing south on Birchmount Road.
The incident has drawn significant attention and concern within the community, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness regarding pedestrian safety. As police continue their search for the SUV driver, the case remains a critical focus for law enforcement as they seek justice for the victim and her family.
With files from CityNews’ Shauna Hunt and John Marchesan.
