Barrie police seize evidence in deadly pedestrian crash
The accused in a deadly crash in Barrie last month appeared in court Monday as police gathered more evidence to try and figure out what happened in the final moments of Varsil Patel’s life.
Patel was an international student from India studying computer programming at Georgian College.
He was killed while crossing the intersection of Big Bay Point and Leggott Avenue on his way to work at Circle K shortly after 10 p.m. on July 21.
Barrie police say the driver of the vehicle, allegedly involved in the crash, drove off. A damaged car was found in a nearby parking lot down the street after it had caught fire.
A search warrant was granted and executed on the vehicle, according to police.
Police arrested and charged a Barrie man, 19, with dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop after an accident causing death. He was granted bail and makes his next appearance by video in late September.
A publication ban protects any evidence heard in court at this time.
However, police told CTV News that investigators seized what they were looking for as they sought to gain information from the vehicle’s computer system in the moments surrounding the crash.
A GoFundMe set up to cover the costs of returning Patel’s body to India and support his family, to whom he was sending money while in Barrie, raised more than $40,000.
Flowers were displayed on a countertop inside the Circle K with a note expressing sadness for the loss of their colleague.
The flags at Georgian College’s Barrie campus were lowered following the news of Patel’s death.
As the matter is now before the courts, Barrie police say they won’t comment further on the case. The allegations against the accused have not been tested in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976871.1721873052!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
DEVELOPING Jasper updates: Wildfire reaches townsite
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park has reached the townsite.
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.