Windsor Police Service is investigating a potential connection between a serious hit-and-run involving a cyclist and a vehicle that was deliberately set on fire the following evening. Authorities are now appealing to the public for any information that could advance the investigation.
Sequence of Events: From Collision to Fire
The incident sequence began on Saturday, December 27, shortly after 3:00 p.m. Police were called to the 500 block of Wellington Avenue after reports that a cyclist had been struck by a vehicle.
Investigators determined the cyclist was travelling northbound when he was hit from behind by the suspect vehicle. After the collision, the driver did not stop. The vehicle allegedly continued, crashing into a parked car in a residential driveway. The impact was severe enough to push the parked car into a utility pole. The suspect then fled the scene, heading north on Wellington Avenue at a high rate of speed.
The injured cyclist was transported to hospital. Police have confirmed the individual sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.
The Vehicle Found Burned Near Jackson Park
The next phase of the investigation unfolded on Sunday evening. At approximately 7:30 p.m. on December 28, police and fire crews responded to a vehicle fire in the 2200 block of Charl Avenue, near Jackson Park.
Officers arrived to find a grey 2017 Chevrolet Cruz with extensive fire damage. A fuel can was also located near the scene. A Windsor Star reader reported hearing an "exploding sound" near the Essex Terminal Railway tracks west of Jackson Park around that time, followed by the sight of a "wall of fire" close to residential properties.
Police investigators now believe this torched vehicle may be the same one involved in the hit-and-run on Wellington Avenue. The Charl Avenue location is roughly three kilometres south of the initial collision site.
Police Appeal for Public Assistance
The Windsor Police Service is urging residents and business owners in both the Wellington Avenue and Charl Avenue areas to review their surveillance or dashcam footage from the relevant times. Any video or evidence could be crucial.
The suspect vehicle was originally described as a dark grey or black hatchback sedan, which aligns with the model of the burned Chevrolet Cruz.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Windsor Police Service Traffic Enforcement Unit at 519-945-9645 ext. 7032. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 519-258-8477 (TIPS) or online at catchcrooks.com.
