Five years after a 16-year-old boy was intentionally struck by a vehicle in East York and left for dead, police say they are still searching for the driver and pleading for the passenger to speak to investigators.
On Oct. 7, 2019, Matthew Dreaver and his 14-year-old friend were in the area of Woodbine Avenue and O’Connor Drive at around 2 a.m. when they had an “interaction” with two men in the rear of a Shoppers Drug Mart.
While the nature of that interaction remains unclear to this day, Det. Sgt. Brandon Price, of the Homicide and Missing Persons Unit, said the two men then got into their SUV and began “chasing” the boys, who fled on foot.
After searching the area for the boys in the vehicle, described as a 2007 to 2012 black or blue Hyundai Santa Fe SUV, Price said the two men found the boys at nearby Stan Wadlow Park. The passenger then got out of the vehicle, while the driver continued to chase after the boys in his SUV, Price said.
According to the investigation, police believe the driver mounted the curb, drove over the sidewalk, onto the grass, and then intentionally struck Dreaver with the SUV.
Video released following the incident at the time showed the two boys running away from the approaching vehicle before Dreaver was hit. His friend is seen stopping to assist Dreaver as he lays on the ground, before the SUV makes a U-turn and drives past the boys.
The teen was rushed to the hospital without vital signs and later pronounced dead in hospital.
Matthew Dreaver, 16, is seen in this undated photograph provided by family.
In an update Friday, Price said investigators have yet to identify the occupants of the SUV, but said he believes the passenger was not in the vehicle at the time of the deadly hit-and-run and did not know of the driver’s intentions.
“I am looking to speak with you as a witness in this event,” Price said at a Friday news conference. “I need you to come forward to speak to us so that we can solve this case, find justice for Matthew, have some closure for Kelly, his mother, and the whole family, including his friends, and, of course, the community at large.”
This is a developing story. More to come.