Toronto police identify off-duty officer killed in motorcycle crash

TORONTO, Ont. - Toronto police have identified the off-duty officer killed in Tuesday's motorcycle crash in Vaughan as Constable Riccardo Torchia, 30.

The incident occurred around 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon when Torchia's motorcycle, which was driving eastbound on Highway 7, slammed into a dumptruck that was making a turn.

The force of the impact was so powerful it caused the bike to burst into flames, and the officer riding the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene.

"There was somebody out with a fire extinguisher trying to put the body out, but I just gave a statement to the police and they said that he died instantly," one witness told CityNews.

York Regional Police are investigating the incident, and following the crash they closed the areas of westbound Highway 7 from Highway 27 to Highway 50, along with the eastbound lanes from Highway 50 to Highway 427.

Inspectors said they are taking all circumstances into consideration.

"The truck gets a mechanical inspection by our Motor Vehicle unit, as to whether there were any issues with regards to the truck itself," said one officer. "There were none in regards to the truck that we can see at this point that may have resulted in a collision. It was just a truck making a left in front of a motorcycle."

Initial reports indicate the officer was working out of 23 Division.