The owner of a Scarborough home that was struck by a van that caught fire early Friday morning following a police pursuit says some of his tenants will have to find other living arrangements due to the damage.
The incident occurred at a residence on Ellesmere Road near Kennedy Road at around 3:45 a.m.
Firefighters said that several people were inside the house at the time.
“It just sounded like a plane crash,” a witness told CTV Toronto. The man said he heard a “loud bang” and saw flames coming up the side of the house.
Const. Clint Stibbe told reporters that officers were in the area when a white van approached eastbound on Ellesmere Road without its lights on.
“It then made a U-turn and went westbound on Ellesmere at a high rate of speed,” Stibbe said. “Officers did follow that vehicle.”
They lost sight of the van east of Kennedy Road and when they caught up to it, it had already crashed into the house. Police helped residents inside get out through the back of the building.
“Police came in from the back and kicked us all out of the house,” one resident who was sleeping in the living room said.
A suspect was taken into custody after limping away from the scene and hiding in the neighbourhood. He suffered minor injuries, police said. No other injuries were reported.
The home’s owner told CTV Toronto that a number of tenants who live in the house would have to find another place to stay due to the extensive fire and structural damage caused to the home.
A tow truck is on the scene, working to remove the van.
