BREAKING NEWS: Van strikes as many as 10 pedestrians at Yonge and Finch, police don’t know motive or cause of crash

Police say that a white van mounted the curb and struck pedestrians walking along the sidewalk. Television report from the scene from eyewitnesses, say that one woman is dead.

 

Police said both the van and the driver are in custody but don’t know the motive or cause of crash

 

Toronto police say that eight to 10 pedestrians have been struck by a white van on Yonge St., near Finch Ave.
The scene is from Finch to Sheppard Ave., a two-kilometre stretch of Yonge. Several witnesses suggested that the van deliberately mounted the curb and hit pedestrians on the sidewalk.

At least eight ambulances have gone to Sunnybrook hospital.
The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. Monday, police said.

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Police said that a white van mounted the curb south of Finch, and struck pedestrians walking along the sidewalk on Yonge.
One body was covered by an orange tarp at Tolman Ave., a block south of Finch, while a half a block away, another body was covered by a tarp.
One person on scene tweeted a photo of a white van on the sidewalk on Yonge, near Poyntz Ave., south of Sheppard Ave.
Police said both the van and the driver are in custody but don’t know the motive or cause of crash. On a video of the arrest that was posted on social media, the person arrested could be heard saying, “kill me.”

He was on the street attending to an errand.
“This is not a car accident,” Ham said.
One witness told the Star that there were three victims near Mel Lastman Square.
Shayne Klayman was sitting in his car the square when he heard people screaming.
“I looked out my window and everyone is just running in front of the vehicle trying to flag down cops and direct cops to where the assailant was,” he said.
“I never heard screams like that before ever in my entire life. People were running all around trying to flag cops down, like running in front of moving cars trying to flag an officer down.”
He added police cars were speeding up and down Yonge to try and find the suspect vehicle.
“Our hearts go out to anyone affected,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa.
“Obviously we’ll have more to say in the coming hours.”
People were tweeting photos of people with blood, lying on the sidewalk. One witness suggested the vehicle was a rental moving van.
“My thoughts are with those affected by this incident and the frontline responders who are working to help those injured,” Mayor John Tory said.
“I have spoken to Chief Mark Saunders and my office is being updated by Toronto Fire, EMS, TTC and the acting City manager. I am on my way to Mel Lastman Square right now for an update on the situation.
“I have offered any and all assistance that the City can provide to police to help this investigation.”
A waiter at a nearby cafe says he saw several people injured, including a girl who he said appeared to be in serious condition.
Photos from the scene show paramedics treating several people on the sidewalk, where blood stains can be seen.
Police are advising the public to stay away from the area.

Paramedics attend to people after multiple pedestrians were hit by a van in north Toronto in this handout photo from Instagram on Monday.  (Phil Zullo)

The TTC immediately shut down subway service on Line 1, between Sheppard and Finch Stations, due to the police investigation.
By 2:30 p.m., some buses were entering Finch Station.
“Passengers will be taken south on the subway, but trains will not stop at North York Centre,” TTC spokesperson Brad Ross tweeted. “All northbound trains continue to offload all passengers at Sheppard Station before travelling empty up to Finch Station.”