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Barrie man charged after young man is struck and killed in city's south end

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A 19-year-old man is facing charges after an international student was struck and killed in Barrie's south end on Friday night.

According to police, a vehicle heading westbound on Big Bay Point Road hit the pedestrian as he crossed the road to a plaza near Leggott Avenue shortly after 10 p.m.

Police say the 19-year-old student was pronounced dead at the scene. An undated picture of international student Varsil Patel who was killed in Barrie, July 21, 2023 (Source: GOFUNDME)

Family members identified the victim as Varsil Patel, originally from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, and say he was on his way to work at the Circle K convenience store at the time of the collision.

Police say the involved vehicle was located on fire a short distance away at a plaza on the corner of Huronia Road and Big Bay Point Road.

"We are right now in the process of securing, hopefully, a search warrant which will allow us to provide a closer examination of the vehicle to determine what may have caused the fire," noted Peter Leon, Barrie Police Services.

Police aren't sure what lead to the crash or if a second vehicle was involved.

The accused is charged with dangerous operation causing death and failing to stop after an accident causing death.

Police have not released the identity of the driver "due to a publication ban."

A GoFundMe campaign launched over the weekend has raised more than $42,000, which it stated would go toward returning Patel's body to India for burial.

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