A woman in her 60s is dead after Toronto police say a driver intentionally drove into three people in North York on Wednesday.
The driver, an elderly man, was arrested for murder, according to Det.-Sgt. Brandon Price, spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service. Price said there will be other charges once police gather more details.
“We have learned that this was an intentional act on the part of the arrested party,” Price said, calling the collision a “violent vehicle-related incident.”
Speaking to reporters late Wednesday, Price said that there is a familial relationship between accused and the victims, but did not provide specifics. The victims include an adult woman, an adult man and an elderly woman, he said. Police earlier said four people had been struck, but later said there were a total of three victims.
Police said the incident happened around 12:40 p.m. in a parking lot off of 250 Cassandra Blvd., west of Victoria Park Avenue and south of Parkwoods Village Drive.
Price said the adult woman died in hospital despite life-saving efforts. The other two people suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, he said.
“There is no further or ongoing risk to the public,” he said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Insp. Keri Fernandes told reporters that the driver remained at the scene.
Aerial images of the scene show police cordoned off an area at a parking loop within an apartment complex.
Investigators say they’re looking for anyone who may have witnessed the scene of the collision.
WATCH | ‘Somebody screamed, ‘Help, help, help’: Resident describes scene:
Featured VideoWARNING: This video contains graphic descriptions of a scene where police allege a driver may have intentionally used their vehicle to hit four people, killing one woman. CBC’s Greg Ross spoke with Rudy Wachtel about what he saw.
Rudy Wachtel, a resident in the building for the past 11 years, said he was in his apartment when he heard screams and went outside to see what was happening. The police and ambulance hadn’t arrived yet, he said.
“Somebody screamed: ‘Help help help!'” said Wachtel, noting he didn’t witness the collision itself.
“I saw this lady on the ground, she didn’t move at all. There was another lady in the corner there,” he added. “The lady who was lying here in the middle, she was totally full of blood, you know, and totally out.”
When the first officer arrived on the scene, a person pointed out the driver and the officer immediately pulled the driver out of the car and put him in handcuffs, Wachtel said.
Wachtel said the apartment is generally very quiet.
“This building here is very, very secure. We never had a problem like this.”
