Teen arrested and charged with manslaughter in death of Montreal cyclist Isaac Larivée; mayor urges review of police pursuit rules

There are new developments in the death of 18-year-old Montreal cyclist Isaac Larivée, who was struck and killed on October 30: police arrested a 17-year-old on November 3 and charged him with manslaughter and other offences, and Montreal Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada on November 7 asked the Quebec government to review the rules governing provincial police pursuits in residential neighbourhoods. The province says it is open to examining them. (Photo: file photo of Montreal City Hall.)

17-year-old arrested; five charges including manslaughter

Montreal police said the teenager was arrested around noon on November 3 in Ahuntsic-Cartierville and was expected to appear in youth court the next day, facing five charges approved by Quebec prosecutors: manslaughter, criminal negligence causing death, dangerous driving causing death, failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing death, and fleeing from a peace officer. The suspect's identity cannot be published because he is a minor.

What happened: stolen car speeding away from a police stop

The crash happened at around noon on October 30, as Larivée was cycling to class at Collège Ahuntsic and crossing the intersection of Jeanne-Mance Street and Henri-Bourassa Boulevard West. He was struck head-on by a car travelling at high speed and pronounced dead at the scene. The car was a stolen Honda Civic; according to Quebec's independent police investigations bureau (BEI), an unmarked Sûreté du Québec patrol car had spotted the vehicle committing a possible Highway Safety Code violation and tried to stop it. The driver sped away, struck Larivée, and abandoned the car a few blocks away before fleeing on foot. Larivée was a student at Collège Ahuntsic and a player with the Braves de Ahuntsic AAA hockey team.

Mayor seeks review of pursuit rules; province open to it

Mayor Martinez Ferrada said it was worth re-examining whether provincial police pursuits are appropriate in densely populated residential areas; the Quebec government said it was open to examining the procedures. The BEI has assigned six investigators to examine the Sûreté du Québec's role in the events leading up to the crash, while Montreal police are running a parallel criminal investigation into the hit-and-run. A makeshift memorial remains at the scene, where teammates and friends have left hockey sticks, flowers and handwritten notes.