White ghost bike placed at scene of deadly crash

More than 50 people gathered Sunday to place a white ghost bike at the scene of the deadly crash in which 38-year-old cyclistMario Thoret was killed Thursday.

Thoret was riding his bicycle east on West Hunt Club Road near MerivaleRoadas part of his regular commute to work when he was struck by a turning tractor trailer. He died at the scene.

A white ghost bike painted with the words, "In loving memory" and "RIP Mario" now sits near the intersection where he was killed.

Friends said Thoret had previously expressed safety concerns about the exact route wherehe died.

Hed already contacted the City of Ottawa about safer cycling, specifically for his commute, said Sandra Beaubien, who knew Thoret for almost a decade. He was always optimistic that he would see the improvements.

Attached camera to bicycle to capture bad drivers

Friends said Thoret worried about fast-moving traffic veering into designated bike lanes. For the past three weeks, he had even attached a camera to his bicycle.

He had already captured quite a bit of footage on his daily commute. He showed me some of it, said Cat Weaver, one of Thorets best friends. Police do have the camera they have watched footage from his commutes to work and they were shocked.

Police wont confirm a camera was found on scene. Their investigation is ongoing.

Co-founded bike program forkids

Friends are remembering Thoret as incredibly giving and relentless with his community support.

With Weaver, he co-founded the Ottawa chapter of Trips for Kids, a non-profit organization that provides mountain bike outings and environmental education for underprivileged children.

Thoret ran the program out of his own home for the past five years.

There wasnt anything he wouldnt do to further [Trips for Kids], said Weaver.

Thoret was also involved with the Ottawa Mountain Bike Association and volunteered with various bike-related charity events. He was also due to give his 74th blood donation next week.

"He was so quiet about the work that he did and we feel good that people will know what an awesome person he was," said Weaver.

We just need to make sure the roads are safer too, said Beaubien. Nobody else deserves to go through this.