Mother Accuses Police of Mishandling Investigation Into Son’s Death

The parents of a Canadian bicyclist, Mathieu Lefevre, who was struck and killed in a bicycle accident in Brooklyn last year, were forced to file a lawsuit to obtain the records of the police investigation into the accident. When the records were finally released last week, the victim’s mother, Erika Lefevre, criticized the police for mishandling her son’s accident.

Among her criticisms were:

•· There were no photographs of the scene. The camera of the police photographer was apparently broken. However, there were pictures of the Lefevre family, suggesting that police were concerned about the family’s efforts to obtain information about the accident.

•· They police failed to press serious charges against the truck driver, who fled the scene. He was charged with failing to signal and failing to exercise due care. He said that he had no idea that he had hit someone, a statement contested by Mr. Lefevre’s parents.

•· The police failed to release records of the investigation in a timely manner. The family had to file a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit to obtain the records of the investigation.

Ms. Lefevre stated that the driver’s assertion that he was unaware that he had hit anyone was not credible. She believes that the police should have charged him with fleeing the scene or with criminal negligence.

Source:New York Times, “Bicyclist’s Family Criticizes Police Handling of Fatal Crash“, by Hannah Miet, Jan. 23, 2012.