Cyclist, 12, seriously injured in Waterloo collision

Police are looking into the circumstances of a crash in Waterloo that left a 12-year-old cyclist seriously injured. CTV's Alexandra Holyk has the latest.

Waterloo Regional Police are investigating a collision involving a Toyota pickup truck and 12-year-old cyclist in Waterloo.

The crash happened around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday near the intersection of University Avenue East and Woolwich Street.

“There’s no cause of collision at this time. All of those factors will be part of the ongoing investigation to determine exactly what happened,” Const. Brad Hickey told CTV News.

The cyclist was transported to a local hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the truck, a 46-year-old man from Waterloo, was not hurt.

Photos from the scene showed the pickup surrounded by evidence markers with what appeared to be the bicycle underneath.

No further details were shared about the circumstances leading up the the crash.

The intersection was temporarily closed for the investigation but has since reopened.

Safety concerns

The intersection has a history of crashes.

On Jan. 9, 2025, a 71-year-old woman and her dog were struck at the crosswalk. The dog was killed.

Neighbours told CTV News collisions were a regular occurrence and they have been asking the city to add more safety measures on the street.

“In the last two weeks... this is the second [crash],” said one. “And the one before was a four car pile up. One of the cars ended up in someone’s backyard.”

The city said “high-visibility ladder crosswalks” have recently been added to the intersection.

Local resident Sue Lee said the change has improved safety.

“So, it is a huge improvement. Actually, no accidents until today,” Lee told CTV News. However, concerns remain about speeding and visibility.

“You can’t see more than three or four cars up the road because of the slope and drivers continue speeding on the street,” Lee said. “The drivers need to be mindful of pedestrians and cyclists because of the visibility or maybe the distractions [from using] devices. We don’t know what the reason is for people driving too fast at this corner.”

She added that both driver and pedestrian inattention is a growing issue.

“I would like to see maybe a little bit more signs around the site to help people, to be cautious when they’re approaching the intersection, especially during the school hour,” she said. “We have kids crossing the street. And the kids, they’re usually just giggling around [and] they play. So, I think we need more signs before the traffic light. People need to be more careful.”

‘Stop, look, listen’

Drivers can expect to see more cyclists out on the roads, especially as temperatures warm up.

“It’s a little bit like being on the wrong side of a game of Frogger,” said Stephen Donoghue, owner of Guelph Cycle Therapy.

Donoghue believes Waterloo needs better bike lanes and to make cycling safety a priority.

“There are a lot of roads in this city that I do not take a bicycle on under any circumstances because of drivers competing for visibility,” Donoghue said.

Safety experts say the onus is on all road users.

“Stop, look, listen. Use all of your senses. Same thing for drivers,” said Angelo Dicicco, president and CEO of Ontario Safety League.

“It’s also a time for caregivers to remind their child of the safety of the rules on the road and making sure that their bike is geared up to hit the road as well [to ensure] they have the proper safety equipment,” Hickey added.

With reporting by Alexandra Holyk