One dead after TTC bus and truck collide at Scarborough intersection

A TTC bus and a truck collided at a north Scarborough intersection late Tuesday morning, leaving one dead and injuring more than a dozen people, according to Toronto EMS.

One of those injured is reported to have life-threatening injuries, and two others are reported to have serious injuries following the crash around 11:30 a.m. at Steeles Ave. E. and Middlefield Rd., near McCowan Ave., according to Constable Clint Stibbe.

The victim who died of her injuries is a woman in her 50s, said EMS spokesperson Kim McKinnon.

Police report that the woman was waiting to get off the stationary vehicle when it was struck by the eastbound truck. The truck is alleged to have veered across the road into the bus as it attempted to make a left hand turn.

Twelve people in total were taken to hospital and more were treated on scene.

The intersection will be closed for approximately four hours – well into rush hour, said a police spokesperson.

A TTC spokesperson said two routes are affected — 130 Middlefield and 53 Steeles East — and are currently being diverted in both directions.

Andrew Knox, who works down the street from the scene of the collision, said he heard the crash.

“It sounded like an explosion,” he said. “It was extremely loud.”

His work colleague, Dave Bryson, said he could see a woman lying on the floor of the bus.

One homeowner, whose house backs onto the crash scene, said he was in his yard raking leaves when he heard a crash and screaming.

“Sometimes my kids are with me in the yard,” said Britpal Saini. “Thank God this time they weren’t.”

Saini has lived in his home for seven years, and said just recently a car crashed into his neighbour’s fence when trying to negotiate the same left hand turn.

“It’s really bad, I’m scared to live here,” he said. “It’s a really bad intersection.”

A reconstruction team will be on site imminently to determine whether the crash resulted from mechanical failure.

The driver of the bus was one of the patients taken to hospital, said Andy Byford, TTC CEO, but he was unable to confirm if the other injured people were on the bus.

“This is a very serious and shocking incident,” he told reporters at the scene. “Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased and the other injured passengers.”

TTC Chair Karen Stintz tweeted, “Sincere condolences to the loved ones of the deceased in today's tragedy. My thoughts are with our operator, passengers, & their loved ones.”

The intersection is currently closed and there are live hydro wires dangling down from a damaged hydro pole.

Nearly 5,000 Power Stream Inc. customers were without power as a result of the crash but it has since been restored according to the company’s Twitter account.

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