Toronto Police say eight people have been taken to hospital, some with life-threatening injuries, after a serious crash involving a TTC bus and an alleged stolen BMW early Monday.
Duty senior officer Brian Maslowski said the crash happened just after 1 a.m. at Bathurst Street and Wilson Avenue.
“Our initial information is that two vehicles were travelling at a very high rate of speed, westbound on Wilson Avenue,” Maslowski said.
Maslowski said a black SUV made it through the intersection at Bathurst Street but a white BMW did not.
“It collided with the driver’s side of a southbound TTC vehicle. This caused quite a massive collision,” Maslowski said.
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He said the TTC bus was struck “with such force” that it spun into the northbound lanes.
Paramedics told Global News eight people were transported to hospital — four to a local hospital and four others with more serious injuries to a trauma centre. They also noted a ninth person was injured and was assessed at the scene but refused to be taken to hospital.
All of those injured were both from the bus and from the vehicle, paramedics said.
Maslowski said when emergency crews arrived the white BMW was on fire. In total, there were four people inside and two of them are in life-threatening condition while the other two have serious injuries but are not life-threatening.
Maslowski confirmed the white BMW was reportedly stolen.
There were four passengers on board on the TTC bus as well as the driver. All of them suffered minor injuries including a woman that was ejected from the bus, Maslowski said.
“It’s a horrific scene quite frankly,” Maslowski said.
He said police do not know the make or model of the black SUV that made it through the intersection and is asking anyone with information or video footage to contact police.
The intersection remains closed for the investigation.
The TTC said it is diverting buses around the closure.