Kingston Police charged driver following collision that killed cyclist

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Kingston Police have charged the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed 77-year-old Patrick Lynch last November.

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At about 3:30 pm on Nov. 12, 2023, Lynch was out for a Sunday ride on Taylor-Kidd Boulevard when a Subaru sedan struck him. The collision took place about a kilometer east of Coronation Boulevard. Both the vehicle and Lynch were headed east at the time. He was on his way home in the Sunnyside neighborhood.

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The 31-year-old driver of the Subaru stayed on the scene as emergency services were called and life-saving measures attempted to save Lynch. He was rushed to hospital where he later died. He left behind a wife and three daughters.

The driver, who is from Kingston, was co-operative with investigators. Kingston Police said in a news release that collision reconstructionists, forensic identification officers and detectives were all involved in the investigation.

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Police said they gathered witness statements, reviewed physical evidence and collision reconstruction findings and inspected both the Subaru and Lynch’s Brompton folding bicycle.

As a result, Kingston Police charged the driver with careless driving causing death under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act.

Police noted that the offense comes with potential court-imposed penalties, including a maximum fine of $50,000, a custodial jail sentence not exceeding two years and/or up to a five-year driver’s license suspension.

Lynch, a retired child psychologist born in Ireland, had cycled all around the world and across North America. His twin daughters, Signy and Keavy Lynch, told the Whig-Standard back in November that their father was always up for an adventure on his bike, no matter the weather. In 2022, Lynch traveled 6,400 kilometers.

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Lynch was a member of the Kingston Velo Club for at least 20 years and his death came as a great shock.

“Patrick in particular was a highly, highly experienced cyclist,” Carole Russell, president of the club, urged. “He was extremely conscious and diligent with respect to safety. “It was very shocking to us to learn what happened because of his diligence around safety and being so careful on the roads.”

His daughters said he never feared cycling on the roads, even in downtown Toronto, but he was also never reckless and took precautions.

“Kingston Police wish to remind motorists of their responsibility to share the road with cyclists, be aware of their presence, and pass in a safe manner when allowable,” the news release reads. “There is a legal obligation for motorists to leave at least one meter of space while passing a bicycle; the offense for disobeying this rule being a $110 fine and two demerit points upon conviction.”

More information can be found at the City of Kingston’s “Share the Road: A Guide for Motorists and Cyclists” website. Additionally, valuable resources, courses and safety workshops can be found on the website of Cycle Kingston, whose mandate is to promote safe cycling in the region through education and public outreach initiatives.

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