Toronto police charge man who turned himself in after cyclist death

A 22-year-old man arrested in connection with the death of a Toronto teacher will return to court Monday.

Miguel Oliveira appeared briefly at Old City Hall court on Sunday but was remanded in custody to await a bail hearing.

Mr. Oliveira turned himself in at Toronto police 11 Division station Saturday night around 9 p.m., more than 36 hours after the incident. He is charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing death.

It's alleged that Mr. Oliveira was driving a red minivan that struck 35-year-old public school teacher Tom Samson at 6:43 a.m. Friday. Mr. Samson was cycling north on Lansdowne Ave. trying to cross Davenport Road when he was hit initially by a van travelling West on Davenport, police said. The collision pushed Mr. Samson into the path of another vehicle and he was struck again. The driver of the second vehicle, a 63-year-old man, stayed at the scene to help the victim, but his injuries were severe. Mr. Samson was pronounced dead at St. Michael's Hospital.

Mr. Samson taught at Swansea Public School in Toronto's west end. A note on the school's website Sunday remembered him fondly as a devoted husband and father to two children, aged seven and four.

"Tom made a tremendous impact on the school community during his eight years at Swansea Public School. He shared his love of life with everyone he met – his music, his chess, his basketball, his sense of humour and most importantly his smile," the note said.

A service to celebrate his life will be held at Wychwood Barns on Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. It will be open to the public. The family has asked that donations be made to the Toronto Public Library Foundation to honour Mr. Samson's love of reading and his devotion to young readers.