Two people are dead and three others have been taken to hospital after a crash outside of High Park in Toronto’s west end.
Emergency crews were called to the intersection of Parkside Drive and Spring Road, just north of The Queensway, at around 4:40 p.m. on Tuesday for reports of a multi-vehicle crash.
“What I can tell you from speaking to our Traffic Services investigator is that there was a dark-coloured BMW that was travelling southbound on Parkside Drive and it was travelling at a high rate of speed,” Toronto police Const. Alex Li told reporters at the scene.
“This vehicle then collided and struck a vehicle that was waiting in traffic, which then caused a chain reaction to have multiple vehicles crash into each other.”
Li said a total of five vehicles were involved in the collision.
He said a 71-year-old man and a 69-year-old woman were killed. The pair were driving together in the same vehicle, a Toyota Matrix.
A 38-year-old man was taken to hospital in serious condition, while two others were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Li said the investigation into the crash is ongoing and appealed for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact police. He said some witnesses have already talked to officers.
Li said its “too early to conclude” if impairment may have been a factor but added that all possibilities are being examined.
He said investigators will “lay the appropriate charges” if warranted after more evidence is gathered.
Officers shut down a large portion of Parkside Drive for the investigation.