UPDATED Driver in custody after Toronto pedestrians hit by white van that fled scene

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Live updates on the Toronto van incident from CBC News Network. 0:00

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)

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.”

UPDATE 1:27 pm, police were called to Yonge Street and Finch Avenue East, for a collision.
A Media Sgt from traffic services is on their way to the scene.
Too early to confirm the number of pedestrians struck or their injuries. More to come.

 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.

At request of police, there is no subway service north of Sheppard Stn on Line 1 as police investigate this horrific situation near North York Centre. Finch Stn. is closed. If heading north, you can use Line 4 and transfer to 11 Bayview, 51 Leslie or 25 Don Mills buses.

 UPDATE: Some buses now entering Finch Stn. Passengers will be taken south on the subway, but trains will not stop at North York Centre. All northbound trains continue to offload all passengers at Sheppard Stn. before travelling empty up to Finch Stn.

Source:cbc.ca/news