2018 Toronto Van Crash Attack
2018 Toronto Van Crash Attack
On Monday, April 23, 2018 a driver crashed a white van into pedestrians near the Yonge Street and Finch Avenue intersection in North York, Ontario a suburb of Toronto, Ontario. [1] Toronto Police have said 9 people were killed and 16 were injured in the crash. Toronto Police later identified Alek Minassian as the suspect behind the attack.
Crash
Toronto Police arrested a driver after a white van struck a number of pedestrians Monday in the Yonge Street and Finch Avenue area. [1]10 people were killed and 15 injured after the crash.
“Reports were that a white van mounted the curb, drove down the sidewalk at southbound Yonge, south of Finch, and struck eight to 10 people possibly, the numbers aren’t confirmed yet,” Toronto police spokesperson Gary Long told Global News.
“We don’t know the cause or the reason for the collision, but we can confirm that the van has been located and the driver is in custody,” Const.
Caroline de Kloet said in an interview.
De Kloet did not provide details on the suspect’s identity or any charges that might be pending.
A spokesperson for Sunnybrook Hospital on Bayview Avenue said seven patients had been brought to its trauma centre and that its emergency department had been locked down as a precaution. [1]
The extent of their injuries wasn't immediately known.
Police were initially called to Yonge and Finch for a report of a collision at 1:27 p.m. The van was located and stopped but Long could not say where. [1]
A witness said separately that he had seen at least four bodies lying covered on the ground after the events, and that the people hit included a man who was crossing the street and others on the sidewalk.
The van, which was said to have mounted the curb and hit the pedestrians on the sidewalk, was stopped by police, Const.
Jenifferjit Sidhu told CBC Toronto.
Police closed the southbound lanes of Yonge Street at Finch as they investigated.
People were urged to avoid the area.
Toronto Mayor John Tory said he was making his way up to Mel Lastman Square in the area for an update on the situation. [1]
He said his office was being updated by Toronto Fire Services, Toronto Paramedic Services, the Toronto Transit Commission and the acting city manager. [1]
"My thoughts are with those affected by this incident and the frontline responders who are working to help those injured.
I have offered any and all assistance that the city can provide to police to help this investigation."
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed condolences as he was heading into question period in Ottawa. He said he was just learning of the incident. [1]
"Our hearts go out to everyone affected," Trudeau said.
He said he would have more to say in the coming hours.
Marianne Cho, a worker at Kayagum Restaurant, 5460 Yonge St., said the area had been blocked off by police.
"I just see one man lying at an intersection at Yonge and Kempford.
There are ambulances around him and paramedics and cops," she said.
"I was just working and then another worker told me a man might have been possibly been hit by a car.
I see a man on the road right now and he's been there for quite a while.
He hasn't been moving at all."
The man was less than 100 metres from the restaurant.
The Toronto Transit Commission, meanwhile, suspended Line 1 subway service between Sheppard and Finch stations and said there would be no shuttle bus service.
TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said northbound trains were emptying at Sheppard station and trains would run empty to Finch station, bypassing North York Centre station.