Toronto police are looking for suspects after an apparent street racing accident left five people injured.
Police say it's fortunate no one was killed Tuesday night when a Buick and Honda Civic sped through a red light and the Buick hit another car.
The Buick then crashed into a light standard. The accident happened close to a bus stop packed with people. The driver of the Civic left the accident scene, but police say they know the car's plate number.
Four passengers in the Buick were taken to hospital and so was the driver of the Pontiac.
None of their injuries is life threatening.
But police say the accident -- which occurred near a busy bus stop in the city's east end near Lawrence Avenue East and Midland Avenue -- could have been much worse.
"I've been to fatalities with these -- very, very critical injuries -- where innocent people have been hurt by these street races. Hopefully, now with the new legislation, with the teeth that it has, we can clamp down on these people," said Toronto Police Const. Greg Casbourn.
Police say they expect to lay charges in Tuesday night's accident.
Ontario passed legislation last year that toughened street racing fines and driving penalties. Anyone found to be street racing now faces fines ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 and cars used for illegal races can be seized for up to seven days. About 3,500 people have been issued licence suspensions and had their cars seized since the new provincial law went into effect.
In 2006, the federal government also introduced enhanced penalties for street racers. Under the toughest penalties, a repeat offender who has caused serious injuries and death could have his or her license suspended for life.
