Ontario’s police watchdog is investigating after officials say two 13-year-olds took off from officers in a SUV and crashed into a GO Transit bus in North York Tuesday morning.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said a York Regional Police officer saw the SUV with the two young occupants at around 4:40 a.m. near Dufferin and Centre streets in Vaughan.
The SIU said when the officer attempted to stop the SUV, the vehicle took off.
Minutes later, officials said emergency crews were called to the intersection of Dufferin Street and Finch Avenue West.
Toronto police said the 13-year-old boy behind the wheel of the vehicle was allegedly driving southbound on Dufferin Street at a high rate of speed when it struck a fuel truck at the intersection.
Investigators said a GO Transit bus stopped at the intersection was subsequently hit. The two teens were taken to hospital, and one of whom had serious leg injuries.
Police said a 13-year-old passenger was taken to a trauma centre with a serious leg injury.
“I believe right now he is currently in surgery at the hospital. By the level of injury that I have heard, it is going to be a serious life-altering injury that he has sustained,” Sgt. Murray Campbell with Toronto police’s traffic services told reporters Tuesday morning.
There were no other injuries to any of the drivers involved and there was no major damage to the fuel truck, police said.
Campbell added the 13-year-old driver is in police custody.
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“We are looking into how they came into possession of this vehicle. Obviously, two 13-year-olds, as we all know, should not be driving or in possession of a motor vehicle,” Campbell said.
A man who identified himself as the father of the injured 13-year-old passenger told reporters he last saw his son around midnight before he went to bed.
He said the car belonged to him.
“[The hospital] said they are trying to save his leg. That’s what they told my wife this morning.”
He said he is not aware of his son ever being involved with the car before and also added that he does not know the person driving the car.
A spokesperson with Metrolinx said there were no passengers on board the GO bus and that the bus driver involved is assisting police. There are no bus trip cancellations, the spokesperson said.
The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault.
Police are asking local residents, businesses and drivers who may have security or dashcam footage of the area or incident to contact investigators at 416-808-1900 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
— With files from Priya Sam.
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