Toronto, Canada – Man Hit And Killed On Way Home From Shul Shabbos Night

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    Michael Friedman was leaving the Maon Noam Synagogue on Rutherford Road near Bathurst Street after being struck by a car on Rutherford rd. November 18 Photo Credit: Jeremy Cohn , Global NewsToronto, Canada – A Toronto man in his mid sixties was killed in a hit by a car Friday night as he crossed an unlit street last night on his way home from Shul.

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    Michael Friedman was leaving the Maon Noam Synagogue on Rutherford Road near Bathurst Street at approximately 9:50 PM after partaking in a community Shabbos meal Friday night. Witnesses saw a Toyota Yaris hit Friedman as he crossed Rutherford Road near Bathurst Street in the city of Vaughn. Paramedics were called to the scene and Friedman was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

    According to Rabbi Yisroel Fridman, Rabbi of the Maon Noam branch on Rutherford Road, the Shul is located in a new development which has no sidewalks or streetlights.

    “We are located on a major road and we petitioned the city several time to put up streetlights and sidewalks, but they keep postponing the issue,” Rabbi Friedman told VIN News. “We once wrote to them and specifically told them that we were concerned about accidents happening here, but nothing was done.”

    Friedman, who is divorced and leaves behind a wife and daughter in Montreal, was described by Rabbi Hirsch Rabiski of the Torresdale branch of Maon Noam as “a good person.”


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    11 Comments
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    12 years ago

    In lakewood too many of the street lights aren’t working & it’s a very dangerous situation, but the Township officals don’t care about pedestrians.

    JewishReporter
    JewishReporter
    12 years ago

    Ouch so sad to hear this bd”e

    12 years ago

    I dont want to take away from this unfortunate incident. But I think this should be a wake up call for people to wear reflectors. There should be a law that if you hit someone without a reflector they cant sue you.

    12 years ago

    I dont know if it would have helped in this case, but people should always wear reflectors at night. In our neighborhoods most of us dress in black. it is so difficult to see someone especially on corners. Last week I was driving down 51st street a yungerman was walking in the street with his back to me I noticed him only as I went by him. .

    YJay1
    YJay1
    12 years ago

    BD”E – So tragic.

    Tehai Nishmaso Tzerura B’tzror Ha’Chaim.

    Darth_Zeidah
    Darth_Zeidah
    12 years ago

    I was visiting in Toronto a couple of weeks ago, and my hosts (who live Thornhill) took me through Bathurst. I send my deepest condolences to the Friedman family
    and hope that they, too, will be comforted among all the mourners of Zion.

    SherryTheNoahide
    SherryTheNoahide
    12 years ago

    Oh no! What is going on w\drivers these days?!?! The article states that the street was unlit… and no doubt the poor gentleman was probably wearing black, no? So it couldn’t have made the situation easy! But come on!

    Do you see that busted up windshield?! I have to wonder how fast the driver was going in the first place! And… did he\she violate the “No Talking on Cell Phones” or “No Texting While Driving” rules?? People are barely paying attention on the road these days, because they can’t put down their cell phones for even 5 minutes!!! Sometimes you can see people swerving on the road, etc…

    But then when you pass them, you realize, “Oh, they’re not drunk! They’ve just got their head down & are busy looking at their cell phone!” Aaah! >[:-P

    12 years ago

    To #3- In order words (by your logic), you are giving people a green light to hit anyone with their car, who isn’t wearing a reflector? Kindly note that just because a pedestrian doesn’t have a reflector on, it doesn’t give the motorist the right not to exercise greater caution at night. Motorists can use higher beams when necessary, and slow down on unlit streets. Yes, pedestrians and others (especially joggers and bicyclists) should exercise common sense and wear reflectors; however, that doesn’t absolve the motorist of driving with caution at all times.

    shaya1011
    shaya1011
    12 years ago

    bde

    ALLAN
    ALLAN
    12 years ago

    My condolences to the family of Michael Friedman, may they know – no more sorrow.
    The speed of the driver could have been a factor…the damage to the hood and windshield is severe and very possibly the result of excessive speed.
    No sidewalks and streetlights, plus the possiblity of too much speed…a recipe for disaster.
    I know a fellow who when in the dark of the Catskills at night wore a reflective vest on his return from shul on Friday nights…..more than a great idea….could be a life saver others should consider.