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By David E. Hubler
Contributor, EDM Digest
A white van plowed through a crowd of pedestrians on a busy street near downtown Toronto, Ontario, on Monday, the Toronto police department reported. Paramedics were quickly on the scene to treat multiple casualties.
The Toronto Star said as many as 10 pedestrians were struck when the van mounted the curb and struck people walking on the sidewalk. The Toronto Fire Service tweeted that the crash was “horrific.”
Police said it was “too early” to confirm the number of pedestrians struck or their injuries.
Stephen Powell, district chief for Toronto Fire, told CNN that the vehicle traveled “between a half-mile and a mile.”
An eyewitness told CNN partner CTV that bystanders shouted to the driver, “Stop the car!”
“But he didn’t,” she said. “He just kept moving.”
The woman said she saw at least three people lying on the ground. “They didn’t move at all,” she added.
Driver Taken into Custody by Toronto Police
The driver of the van was arrested, Toronto Police told CBC, a CNN partner. But his identity and the cause of the accident were not immediately reported.
The incident occurred in the North York area at the intersection of Finch Avenue and Yonge Street, which is one of the main thoroughfares in Toronto. Subway service was suspended in the area of the incident.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he was just learning about the incident. “Our hearts go out to anyone affected. We’re obviously going to have more to learn and more to say in the coming hours,” he added.
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