A cyclist was killed after being struck by a streetcar in downtown Toronto, Friday morning.

Police say a man was struck around 7:30 a.m. on Spadina Avenue near the Lake Shore Boulevard West intersection.

The Toronto man, in his 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A passenger on board the streetcar told CTV News that the man was pinned under the streetcar for some time.

Traffic Services Const. Hugh Smith told reporters the cyclist had been stopped on the centre median, but decided to cross the street while the street car was just metres away.

"He did ride in front of the path of the streetcar. The driver administered his emergency braking system and unfortunately couldn't stop, moving forward for quite a distance and pinning him under the streetcar bed," Smith said.

Smith said the cyclist was wearing a coat with a hood up over his head. It is unclear whether he was wearing a helmet.

Lake Shore Boulevard West has been restricted to one lane eastbound, while Lower Spadina has been closed in both directions.

Spadina streetcars are being diverted along Bathurst Street in the area.