Toronto-area man arrested in connection with fatal hit-and-run of SCRC Member

By DONAL O'CONNOR, Staff Reporter

A 36-year-old man from the Toronto area has been arrested in connection with the hit-and-run collision Tuesday night in Sebringville that resulted in the death of a Stratford woman.

Perth County OPP said the man was arrested yesterday in Stratford without incident and was being held in police custody.

Sara Gardiner, 54, who was heading east on her motorcycle on Highway 8, was thrown from her motorcycle in the collision and later died at Stratford General Hospital.

Information from the public assisted police in making the arrest yesterday. Police also seized a 2002 Jeep Liberty with extensive damage to the front right corner that was parked in a Downie Street parking lot.

Police earlier reported the fatal collision occurred at about 8:20 p.m. A silver/gray Jeep damaged in the collision had been observed leaving the scene.

Ms. Gardiner had been employed as a records clerk at the Stratford Jail for about 20 years, her sister Wendy Lindsay said. She was a single mother with a son, Adam Gardiner, 24.

"She was a joy. A fine spirit," said Ms. Lindsay, a Guelph resident. "She was really enthusiastic about whatever she did."

Ms. Lindsay said her sister had been involved in school trips when her son was growing up and she had been active with Friends of the Stratford Festival. She took up motorcycle riding about two years ago and was a member of the Southern Cruisers Kitchener-Waterloo chapter.

A memorial photograph has been posted on the club's website.

Ms. Gardiner is also survived by two brothers in Edmonton, Wayne and Gary Gardiner.

A full obituary from the W.G. Young Funeral Home is expected to appear in tomorrow's Beacon Herald.

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