“It’s very insane. The whole thing is very insane,” Nancy Buckman, 68, tells local outlet CP24

NEED TO KNOW

• A Toronto woman was shocked to receive a bill for almost $29,000 from the city nearly two years after being seriously injured in a collision involving alleged jewelry store robbers
• Nancy Buckman, 68, was reportedly found at fault for damaging a pole that her vehicle struck when she was hit by a car carrying the alleged robbers
• City officials reportedly said that Buckman was technically at fault because she was making a left turn at the time, regardless of the reason for the crash

A Canadian woman who says she suffered serious injuries after her car was struck by a vehicle allegedly fleeing a robbery was stunned when she received a bill for almost $29,000 from the city nearly two years later.

Nancy Buckman was driving near Fairview Mall in Toronto in December 2024 when another vehicle crashed into her car, leaving her unconscious and her vehicle badly damaged, according to Canadian news outlet CP24.

The driver and passengers of the other vehicle were allegedly fleeing a robbery at a nearby jewelry store at the time, the outlet reported.

Nearly two years later, in July 2026, Buckman, 68, received an unexpected notice from the City of Toronto demanding $28,848.31 for what it claimed was damage to public property caused by her car during the crash.

“I was actually in total shock, a complete shock. I mean, like I couldn’t believe it,” she told CP24.

According to Buckman, who was employed as a nurse practitioner at the time, she was on her way to a medical laboratory to drop off samples when the crash occurred. She said she had begun making a left turn at an intersection when another car suddenly struck her vehicle.

“The cars had stopped and I was turning left, and as I was turning left, all I remember is the actual crash, and the brakes of my car making noise,” she recalled. “There were no cars in my line of view at all.”

Buckman said she lost consciousness during the collision and awoke to a woman knocking on her window, warning her that the underside of her car had caught fire.

The bystander helped her out of the vehicle and into a nearby family’s van, where she remained until emergency personnel arrived.

Buckman said she was subsequently hospitalized with chest bruising and a serious neck injury that requires physical therapy to this day. She also noted that her 2021 Subaru Forester was also destroyed in the crash.

Then, in 2026, she said she received an approximately 10-page invoice from the City of Toronto for a pole that was allegedly damaged by her vehicle during the incident. The document — which was reviewed by CP24 — reportedly gave her until Aug. 22 to pay the full amount. It also warned that failure to do so could result in legal action or suspension of her driver’s license.

Buckman said she contacted the city to explain that she could not afford the charge, particularly within such a short period. Although officials agreed to extend the payment deadline, she said they maintained that she was responsible for the bill.

According to CP24, city officials pointed to a police collision report that reportedly identified Buckman as being at fault because she had been making a left turn and was required to yield to oncoming traffic.

“I was very angry,” Buckman recalled.

She said she attempted to challenge the determination, including contacting the police officer who responded to the crash.

“I did get a hold of him, and he claims to have actually no recollection of the accident,” she told the outlet.

Ultimately, after discussions with her insurance provider, she said the company agreed to cover the city’s bill in full.

Still, Buckman said she struggles to understand how she was held responsible for a collision involving people allegedly fleeing a crime.

“It’s very insane. The whole thing is very insane,” she said.

In a statement to PEOPLE, City of Toronto spokesperson Kayla Lewis explained that the city routinely seeks reimbursement from vehicle owners when municipal property is damaged in collisions.

“When City of Toronto infrastructure is damaged in a motor vehicle collision, invoices representing the repair costs are routinely sent to vehicle owners with the recommendation that the invoice be forwarded to the vehicle’s insurer. In this case, the claim was handled by the resident’s insurance provider,” she added.

Toronto Police were unable to confirm to PEOPLE that the other vehicle involved in the collision was fleeing from a criminal incident.

“What I can tell you is any collision is investigated based on the evidence at the scene. This can include physical evidence in the area, damage to the vehicles, driver or witness statements given, video or photographs available amongst other things,” Shannon Eames, Toronto Police Services Media Relations Officer, told PEOPLE.

Eames added that the investigating officer is required to complete a provincial collision report where the driver “most at fault for initiating the collision is identified.” “What the occupants did prior to the collision would have been noted but may or may not have contributed to the physical movements of the vehicles or pedestrians involved,” she added.

For her part, Buckman said the collision had lasting consequences on her life.

The longtime nurse clinician said chronic pain caused by her injuries contributed to her decision to retire earlier than planned after 40 years working in healthcare.

“The neck discomfort, despite getting all kinds of ergonomic assessments at my desk and stuff, really affected my neck and my work,” she explained. “So I actually retired March 31.”

Buckman also acknowledged that the incident has changed how she feels behind the wheel.

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She described the experience as “incredibly scary,” adding that “it’s a wonder that I ever got behind the wheel again.”

However, she ultimately said she is attempting to put the entire experience behind her.

“I just deal with stuff and move on because otherwise it affects your life,” she told the outlet.

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