Eight injured, two critically, after car flips onto sidewalk in downtown Toronto: police
Eight people were injured, including two boys who remain in critical condition, after a two-vehicle collision in downtown Toronto Sunday afternoon that saw one car pushed off the road and flipped onto the sidewalk into a group of pedestrians.
It happened at the intersection of Richmond and Yonge streets just after 2 p.m. Two cars collided, sending one vehicle off the roadway. The vehicle flipped “onto a number of pedestrians” who were walking on the sidewalk, police said.
Const. Tony Macias told CP24 at the scene that, in total, eight patients were taken to hospital with injuries.
“Both vehicles were travelling westbound. One of the vehicles cut into the lane of the other vehicle, causing it to flip, due to the impact (and) slide,” Macias said. “Seven of the parties that were transported to hospital were standing on the intersection over there when the vehicle collided with them.”
One witness told CP24 that the rolled-over SUV had actually “launched in the air” and was “turned on its side like a missile” before colliding with the pedestrians.
“I just couldn’t believe it. People were just being thrown through the air and he crashed into the building,” the witness, named William, said.
Two of the eight people injured are brothers who remain in critical condition, police said Sunday evening.
A driver from one of the vehicles was trapped, but has since been freed by emergency crews. Drivers of both vehicles remained on scene. There were no passengers in either vehicle.
Images from the scene showed the one vehicle lying on its side on the southwest corner of the intersection in front of a popular all-day breakfast diner while the other remained in the roadway.
The collision took place on a relatively quiet afternoon in the downtown core. Despite the Boxing Day holiday, traffic was generally light downtown.
Macias said the pedestrians were not standing anywhere they shouldn’t have been.
“They were standing there like any other citizen would and unfortunately, no fault of their own, the vehicle lost control and went right into where they were all standing,” he said. “(An) unfortunate thing to happen, especially on a holiday day like today.”
While the full circumstances of the collision have not yet been determined, Macias urged pedestrians and drivers alike to pay close attention to their surroundings.
“Just everyone, pedestrians unfortunately, have to keep their eyes open,” he said. “Motorists, be aware of their surroundings, the other vehicles around them and slow things down. Drive carefully because little mistakes have huge impacts in regards to road safety.”
Macias said all parties involved are cooperating.
The intersection was closed for several hours to accommodate the investigation, but reopened at around 9:30 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson airport gold heist: police
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Poilievre-led government 'would never' use notwithstanding clause on abortion, his office says
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
BREAKING Critical injuries to 7 people in Sharbot Lake, Ont. crash
Ontario Provincial Police say seven people have suffered severe injuries in a single-vehicle crash in Sharbot Lake, Ont.
Barron Trump selected to be a Florida delegate at Republican National Convention
Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, was selected by the Florida GOP as an at-large delegate for Florida at the Republican National Convention, according to a list of delegates obtained by CNN.