A cyclist was travelling in the vicinity of Carlton Road and Old Ivy Lane at around 8:20 a.m. on Monday when he was hit by a vehicle that then left the scene.

The cyclist, who has since been identified by friends and family as 50-year-old Safet Tairoski, was rushed to hospital following the incident but was later pronounced dead.

In a news release issued on Wednesday, police said that investigators have since determined that the suspect made a false police report regarding a collision in the wake of the hit-and-run.

They say that investigators located the damaged vehicle at an auto repair shop at Markham and have since arrested and charged the suspect.

“I want to thank our community for quickly coming forward to provide valuable video evidence in this investigation,” York Region Police Chief Jim MacSween said in the release. “I also want to recognize the efforts of our officers who have worked around the clock to make sure that the person responsible for this tragic death is brought before our courts.”

Alexandra Forrestall, 25, is charged with failure to stop at the scene of a collision causing death, public mischief and obstruction.

Police say that the investigation into the hit-and-run is ongoing and that investigators are continuing to appeal to any witnesses or people with surveillance footage from the area to come forward.

Victim had recently bought a new bike

Marc Anthony Lacroix, a neighbour and friend to the victim, described Tairoski as a dedicated father who “gave everything” to his family and everyone around him.

“He’s basically my second dad. I’d go over every day. I spend more time in his house than I do in my own,” Lacroix said.

“He has two sons and a daughter and he gave everything to them. (He) always loved them, always hugged them, always kissed them, always told them ‘I love you.’”

He added that the victim had recently purchased a new bike and helmet to get him to and from work during the pandemic.

“Every morning I’d come outside and I would say, ‘Hey Safet, how many kilometres today?'"

Lacroix noted that Tairoski was a “very safe” cyclist who had been riding to work every morning without incident until he was struck and killed on Monday morning. 

“He’ll truly be missed,” he said. “It should teach everyone around the world, not only around the community, to love your parents because you never know when the day comes."