GUELPH – Police are still looking for the driver of a stolen vehicle that fled a RIDE program on Sunday and then crashed, killing a young female pedestrian.
Family and friends on social media identified the woman as University of Guelph student Grace Glofcheskie, 24, of Arnprior, a member of the school’s golf team.
The province’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is investigating the incident, which took place on Dec. 13 at around 2:35am.
Guelph Police officials, also investigating the incident, say Wellington County OPP officers were conducting a RIDE program at the intersection of Rose and Arthur Streets in Guelph.
“While attempting to stop and check a vehicle, the driver failed to stop for officers,” Guelph Police said in a press release.
Police say an officer “followed the route of the vehicle (identified as a 2007 Ford Escape) a short distance down the road” and discovered the vehicle had collided with a hydro pole on Woolwich Street near Charles Street, injuring a female pedestrian.
Glofcheskie “had just walked her friend home and was close to arriving at her own home when she was struck,” police say.
She was transported to hospital with major injuries and pronounced dead.
The occupants of the vehicle – police believe the unidentified driver was joined by at least one other person – fled the scene but may have been injured in the crash.
The vehicle was reported stolen from the Eastview Road and Starwood Drive area prior to the incident.
As of Dec. 14, police had not located the driver or occupant(s) of the vehicle.
Guelph Police are seeking information about the incidents from the public. Anyone with information can contact Sergeant Tina Ryan at 519-824-1212 ext. 7329, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
The SIU has assigned six investigators and three forensic investigators to probe the circumstances of the crash, as it does with all serious incidents involving police. Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to contact the lead SIU investigator at 1-800-787-8529 ext. 1886.
‘Amazingly bright’
Family and friends of Glofcheskie began posting memorials and personal messages of grief on social media on Monday.
A Facebook account run by the University of Guelph’s College of Biological Science Student Council called the 24-year-old “an amazingly bright student, beautiful individual, but also, an incredible student leader.”
The student council post noted Glofcheskie was heavily involved as a fundraiser and advocate while she pursued her undergraduate degree in human kinetics and most recently as a masters student in the human health and nutritional sciences department.
Glofcheskie was “great at everything” and “an impeccable leader” the council posted.
“She gave 120% into her academics, her involvement on the Gryphons Varsity Golf Team, her position on [the student council] and to her friends and family …
“The world has lost one of it’s brightest stars. You were taken from us incredibly too soon. We’ll be missing you.”
