Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating after a woman was struck and killed by a Toronto police cruiser in the city’s north-west end.
The collision occurred on Saturday afternoon close to Highway 27 and Rexdale Boulevard.
Special Investigations Unit (SIU) spokesperson Frank Phillips said the woman was crossing from the east side of Highway 27 to the west side when she was struck by the cruiser, which at the time was escorting a funeral procession.
Phillips said there was no pedestrian crossing where the woman, believe to be in her 60s, was struck.
Tre Fletcher was on his way to bury his father when he saw the accident unfold before his eyes.
“I was like, ‘Wow, where is she going?’ By the time I uttered those words she was hit by the car, by the cop car,” he said.
When emergency crews arrived on the scene, they discovered the woman without vital signs.
Photos captured at the scene show the police cruiser with a shattered windshield and a smashed side mirror.
One mourner said the woman was looking in the opposition direction of the procession when she was hit.
“It’s just two tragedies you know,” said Esther Anderson. “I mean, the gentleman whose funeral we were attending, he died suddenly last week and to have this happen on the way to the cemetery, it’s just devastating.”
The SIU said six investigators, a collision reconstruction expert and three forensic investigators are looking into the case.
The SIU is typically called in to investigate any serious incidents involving police. This includes events where there has been death, serious injury, or sexual assault allegations.
An SIU investigation could determine whether charges should be laid.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Scott Lightfoot
