Watch: Family members of 52-year-old killed leave flowers; drivers of both vehicles released from hospital. Mark McAllister reports.
TORONTO – Police are asking for witnesses to come forward after a female passenger was killed and 12 others injured when a truck crashed into a TTC bus in Scarborough Tuesday morning.
Police say a 40-year-old man was driving a 2010 Hino truck eastbound on Steeles Avenue East approaching Middlefield Road at 11:30 a.m. when the vehicle crossed into the westbound lanes, struck a hydro pole and collided with a city bus head-on.
The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries and is currently at home.
READ MORE: One dead, 12 injured in TTC bus collision
Investigators say the bus was at a service stop on the corner of Steeles Avenue East when it was hit on the right-front corner.
The 36-year-old bus driver had to be removed from the wreckage and transported to hospital with neck injuries. TTC CEO Andy Byford said Wednesday the bus driver suffered severe bruising to his back and neck and is “traumatized” by the incident.
The police are still investigating and as such, no charges have been laid but Byford suggested Wednesday that preliminary investigations show that the TTC driver couldn’t have avoided the accident.
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“There were a number of passengers on the bus and it must have been a horrific experience for them,” Byford said in an interview. “Our bus was stationary at the stop. There’s absolutely nothing that the operator or the TTC could have done to avoid this tragic incident.”
A 52-year-old woman was pronounced dead on scene and 12 others were taken to hospital with what police call “injuries ranging from non-life-threatening to life-threatening.”
Police on Tuesday said the woman who died was on board the bus, either getting off or preparing to.
Karan Shetty, who was a passenger in a truck next to the TTC bus at the time of the crash, said he saw the driver of the cube truck speaking on his cell phone right before he drove “on the wrong side” and hit the TTC bus.
“I’m in shock,” Shetty said. “I saw that lady almost collapse.”
Police have not confirmed if the driver of the truck was on his cellular phone at the time of the crash.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford extended his condolences to the family of 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 Tuesday. “I am very saddened to hear about this tragic accident.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or Leave A Tip on Facebook.
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