One dead, 12 injured in TTC bus collision

Watch: One person is dead and 12 others are injured in a morning collision between a TTC bus and a truck. Mark McAllister reports. 

TORONTO – A female passenger is dead and 12 people were taken to hospital after a Toronto Transit Commission bus collided with a truck in east-end Toronto Tuesday morning.

The incident happened around 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of Steeles Avenue and Middlefield Road where a cube truck hit a bus head on. An electrical pole was also struck during the crash.

Toronto Emergency Medical Services spokeswoman Kim McKinnon said one female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision, and paramedics treated 12 others and transported them to hospital.

Traffic Services Media Officer Clint Stibbe told Global News that the 12 people taken to hospital included the bus driver, who had life-threatening injuries, as well as two others with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The remaining nine people suffered minor injuries.

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Stibbe said the bus was stopped at a TTC stop at the time of the collision, and the right-hand side of the bus was struck by the right-hand side of the truck. He said the woman who died was on board the bus, either in the process of getting off the bus or preparing to exit. The path the cube truck was driving has not been determined, nor has its speed.

“We have to figure out exactly why the truck ended up where it did, and as a result the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Unit as well as the reconstruction teams will be looking at the vehicle to see if there was a mechanical failure, or if there were any medical issues,” said Stibbe, who added the video from the bus itself had been seized for the investigation.

“Just looking at that bus, you’re looking at a write-off, it’s a serious damage,” said TTC CEO Andy Byford during an interview at the scene. “The bus driver has gone to hospital…he has got some neck injuries, so he’s been put into a brace as a precaution.”

Watch below: TTC CEO Andy Byford responds to the accident

Karan Shetty was a passenger in a truck that was next to the TTC bus at the time of the crash. Shetty said he saw the driver of the cube truck speaking on his phone right before he drove “on the wrong side” and hit the TTC bus.

“I’m in shock,” said Shetty. “I saw that lady almost collapse.”

Shetty said he saw the woman who was “basically run over” walking, as the driver of Shetty’s vehicle asked him why the cube truck driver was coming onto their side of the road.

“And he was still on the phone. That was the major part which I didn’t understand,” said Shetty. “Whether his brake failed, he was talking to somebody…how can he be talking to somebody and going right across?”

Watch below: Raw video of the scene of the crash and descriptions from a witness

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford extended his condolences to the victim, and wished for a quick recovery of those suffering injuries.

“On behalf of City Council and all Toronto residents, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased at this difficult time,” said Mayor Ford in a statement. “I am very saddened to hear about this tragic accident.”

Powerstream said via Twitter that 4,650 customers in the area were without power following the accident, but said electricity had been restored just after 3 p.m.

The intersection has been closed to traffic for the investigation, and Stibbe said the closure would go well past the afternoon traffic rush.

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