Torontonians have a little less faith in humanity this morning after hearing that the bystander effect is alive and well in their city.

Motorists near the intersection of Islington Avenue and Finch Avenue West apparently drove around the body of an elderly pedestrian who was struck and killed in the area early this morning during rush hour, police have confirmed.

So a woman is struck and killed in hit and run on Islington north of Finch....and police tell me around a dozen drivers just drove around the woman as she lay on the pavement. Not one of them stopped—just swerved around the body and kept going. Absolutely pathetic.

— carl hanstke (@carl680) November 28, 2019

The driver who hit the unnamed victim, who was in her 70s, fled the scene after the 6:30 am accident. They were in a black SUV.

Residents are sickened not only by the hit-and-run itself, but also by the fact that others could see such a tragedy take place and simply continue on with their morning commutes without stopping to aid the victim or call for help.

It is making many question the city's apparent apathy.

People are awful

— S A M 🇨🇦 (@queen_she_ra) November 28, 2019

The victim is one of almost 40 pedestrian deaths in Toronto so far this year amid a City-led campaign to make roads safer.

Mayor John Tory has taken measures like reducing speed limits and improving intersections and crosswalks to be more cyclist- and pedestrian-friendly as part of the city's Vision Zero plan, but the number of avoidable injuries and deaths of vulnerable road users — like pedestrians — keeps rising.

This is NOT ACCEPTABLE and those people should be charged in my opinion. You dont have to provide CPR if you're not trained to do so, but the least you could do is stop and call 911 and stay with the person.

— Hugsnotdrugs7 (@hippiechicken7) November 28, 2019

Police have also struck a nerve with some questionable actions and comments on the topic, such as when they distributed fluorescent armbands to seniors and blamed the use of air pods for the increase in such collisions. 

Amazing that Toronto drivers have no problem seeing a dead body but live bodies need reflective arm bands to be seen.

— vaccinated (@matthewlittler) November 28, 2019

It is worth noting that the specific location where this morning's fatality happened — mid-block near Islington Avenue and Aviemore Drive, north of Finch — has no marked crosswalk, and police believe the accident took place while it was still fairly dark out. The area remains closed off for investigation.