Toronto police arrested a driver after a white van struck a number of pedestrians Monday in the Yonge Street and Finch Avenue area.
A witness told police that eight to 10 people were hit, according to Toronto police spokesperson Gary Long.
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.
The extent of their injuries wasn’t immediately known.
Live updates on the Toronto van incident from CBC News Network.
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.
Police inspect a van suspected of being involved in a collision injuring at least eight people at Yonge St. and Finch Ave. (Cole Burston/Getty Images)
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.
He said his office was being updated by Toronto Fire Service, Toronto Paramedic Services, the TTC and the acting city manager.
“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.
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected,” Trudeau said. He said he would have more to say in the coming hours.
Onlookers gather at Yonge Street and Finch Avenue in Toronto in the aftermath of what police described as a van hitting multiple pedestrians. (Jon Tam)