06-21-2006, 04:56 AM
Suspected street racer dies; two facing charges
CTV.ca News Staff
Two Etobicoke men charged in connection with an alleged street race are facing more serious charges following the death of a man involved in the incident.
Ontario Provincial Police say charges are pending against the men after 25-year-old Myron Kocur, of Etobicoke, died Sunday in hospital from serious head injuries.
Kocur was hospitalized following a spectacular crash on Highway 427 near Rathburn Road in Etobicoke last Tuesday that tore apart his silver Corvette.
He was racing against two other Corvettes before he lost control and slammed into the guardrail, police said.
The early morning crash sent wreckage across six lanes, and the engine "shot like a torpedo," striking a fourth vehicle, said OPP Sgt. Cam Woolley.
The OPP seized the two other Corvettes suspected in the incident on Monday, and those may be forfeited and destroyed upon conviction.
In December the province passed the Civil Remedies Act, which allows the seizure of property related to illegal activity, including speeding and dangerous driving.
On Friday, Attorney General Michael Bryant and York Region police ordered the destruction of two Hondas that had been substantially modified for street racing and were involved in speeding and dangerous driving incidents.
They were the first vehicles to be crushed under the new act.
The public demonstration coincided with legislation introduced by the federal government that aims to make street racing a crime, with more severe punishments.
Some of the changes proposed include increasing the maximum sentence from 10 to 14 years for dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and upping dangerous driving causing death terms from 14 years to life imprisonment.
Longer driving bans, including lifetime suspensions, are also proposed.
A 31-year-old Whitby man was killed when he was reportedly racing his Porsche in Mississauga two weeks ago, and a Richmond Hill couple celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary were killed north of Toronto when their vehicle was struck by a young man in a street race last month.
York Police said they have seized two Hondas involved in the Richmond Hill collision.
In January, 46-year-old Toronto cab driver Tahir Khan died when he was caught in the middle of an alleged street race between two Toronto students.
Since 1999, 35 people have been killed by street racing in the Greater Toronto area alone.
Milan Paunov, 31, is currently charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and failing to remain at the scene of an accident in connection with Kocur's death.
Michael Godina, 24, is currently charged with dangerous driving.
CTV.ca News Staff
Two Etobicoke men charged in connection with an alleged street race are facing more serious charges following the death of a man involved in the incident.
Ontario Provincial Police say charges are pending against the men after 25-year-old Myron Kocur, of Etobicoke, died Sunday in hospital from serious head injuries.
Kocur was hospitalized following a spectacular crash on Highway 427 near Rathburn Road in Etobicoke last Tuesday that tore apart his silver Corvette.
He was racing against two other Corvettes before he lost control and slammed into the guardrail, police said.
The early morning crash sent wreckage across six lanes, and the engine "shot like a torpedo," striking a fourth vehicle, said OPP Sgt. Cam Woolley.
The OPP seized the two other Corvettes suspected in the incident on Monday, and those may be forfeited and destroyed upon conviction.
In December the province passed the Civil Remedies Act, which allows the seizure of property related to illegal activity, including speeding and dangerous driving.
On Friday, Attorney General Michael Bryant and York Region police ordered the destruction of two Hondas that had been substantially modified for street racing and were involved in speeding and dangerous driving incidents.
They were the first vehicles to be crushed under the new act.
The public demonstration coincided with legislation introduced by the federal government that aims to make street racing a crime, with more severe punishments.
Some of the changes proposed include increasing the maximum sentence from 10 to 14 years for dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and upping dangerous driving causing death terms from 14 years to life imprisonment.
Longer driving bans, including lifetime suspensions, are also proposed.
A 31-year-old Whitby man was killed when he was reportedly racing his Porsche in Mississauga two weeks ago, and a Richmond Hill couple celebrating their 17th wedding anniversary were killed north of Toronto when their vehicle was struck by a young man in a street race last month.
York Police said they have seized two Hondas involved in the Richmond Hill collision.
In January, 46-year-old Toronto cab driver Tahir Khan died when he was caught in the middle of an alleged street race between two Toronto students.
Since 1999, 35 people have been killed by street racing in the Greater Toronto area alone.
Milan Paunov, 31, is currently charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and failing to remain at the scene of an accident in connection with Kocur's death.
Michael Godina, 24, is currently charged with dangerous driving.