A fiery collision in Richmond Hill on Halloween night left two people dead and seven people injured, including police, who had tried to rescue them.
The accident occurred shortly after 10:30 p.m. on Friday. A southbound Mazda crossed the centreline of Bayview Avenue while making a u-turn just north of 16th Avenue. A northbound Jeep Liberty t-boned the vehicle.
The Mazda burst into flames seconds later.
Five York Regional Police officers, assisted by two citizens, worked to remove the occupants of the burning vehicle. One of the citizens, Pirooz, said the occupants were unconscious.
"It was on fire and the driver stuck her hand out. That's when two older civilians ran into the fire (and) pulled her arm right out. She fell out and they just dragged her away," Pirooz said.
They rescued two, but a third remained trapped in the back seat and died at the scene. Another person freed died a short time later.
The remaining person, the driver, is in Toronto's Sunnybrook Hospital with life-threatening injuries and underwent surgery.
Police say those who died are from Richmond Hill and Vaughn and are in their early 20s. Their names aren't being released.
The Jeep's two occupants were sent to York Central Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. They have been treated and released.
Insp. William Sadler told ctvtoronto.ca that the officers and civilians who worked to rescue the Mazda's occupants suffered minor injuries, with some treated and released at the scene and some taken to hospital.
In either case, "no lasting injuries," he said.
Police are looking for the driver of a gold-coloured Toyota Corolla to contact them. That vehicle originally stopped at the scene, and investigators suspect that person may have information that could help them.
Police encourage anyone with information about the crash to contact them at 905-895-1221, ext. 7704 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
With a report from CTV Toronto's John Musselman
