Man charged after 7-year-old Ukrainian evacuee dies in Montreal hit-and-run

Stuffed animals, candles and flowers were placed on the sidewalk near where a seven-year-old girl was fatally struck by a vehicle in Montreal’s Ville-Marie borough Tuesday.

The child, who died in hospital, was identified as a Ukrainian evacuee named Mariia Legenkovska. She arrived in Canada two months ago with her mother and two siblings after they had fled the war in Ukraine.

They had been attending the nearby school since September.

“We were crying and hugging and really in shock because it could be anyone’s child,” said nearby resident Isabelle Tames.

“My son used to eat with them because they, he doesn’t stay in daycare and he eats with them. And he said yesterday that their little girl was always smiling. He said, ‘she was always smiling and I am going to miss her.’ It was really sad.”

The vehicle involved fled the scene at Parthenais Street near de Rouen Street before officers arrived shortly after 8 a.m.

Police arrived to find the girl with life-threatening injuries. She was transported to hospital in critical condition, where she later died.

Tames was home when the incident happened.

“I started listening to screams and mobilization and people running… and I saw the little girl in the corner and first aid, someone giving first aid.”

Tames was able to contact the girl’s mother and brought the two siblings to her home.

“Trying to talk with them and calm them down,” she recounted. “It was difficult to talk because they didn’t speak English or French.”

A small memorial for the seven-year-old Ukrainian girl who was fatally struck by a vehicle in Montreal. (Credit: CityNews/Alyssia Rubertucci)

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress says the girl’s father is fighting in Ukraine against the Russian invasion.

“The mother came to Montreal within a program to protect her child from this military aggression and then is faced with a tragedy where her child gets killed in a hit-and-run going to school,” said Eugene Czolij, a lawyer and Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Montreal.

Members of Montreal’s Ukrainian community are mobilizing and fundraising for the family.

“Trying to organize and to ensure that there’s a proper burial and that the immediate needs are addressed,” said Czolij.

45-year-old man charged

On Wednesday, 45-year-old Juan Manuel Becerra Garcia was charged with having not stopped at the site of an accident causing a death. He turned himself in to Longueuil police Tuesday afternoon. The Crown opposed his release on bail.

Prosecutors say there is no dangerous driving charge as of yet, but an investigation is ongoing.

The suspect, who has no previous criminal record, will be back in court Thursday to fix a date for possible bail. His lawyer, Eric Coulombe, did not offer a comment after the brief arraignment Wednesday.

Prosecutor Alexandre Gautier told reporters he was objecting to release to ensure Becerra appears in court, to mitigate the risk to the public and ensure public confidence in the justice system.

Police cruiser at Parthenais Street, and de Rouen Street on Dec. 13, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Matt Tornabene)

Additional security measures needed?

Residents say they’ve been asking the city to make changes to the area that has become heavily trafficked and a speeding zone.

“Me, as a mom to a baby, I think it’s really frightening to live in such a place that that those things can happen,” said resident Ana Dafre.

“People that are kind of going through the city trying to avoid the closures of the tunnel and things like that,” added resident Marius Hervieux. “There’s a lot of rerouting through residential streets, which creates a lot of traffic. And a lot of people are kind of angry and stressed as well.”

Mayor Valérie Plante tweeted the city will assess the area to see if any additional security measures are needed.

A march has been organized Friday in the neighbourhood to honour the girl’s memory.

Organizers also say they want to advocate for safer school zones and denounce dangerous driving.

“Walking to school should not be deadly,” organizers wrote on Facebook.

—With files from The Canadian Press