Al least 10 dead, 15 more seriously injured after rental van plows into pedestrians in Toronto, Monday ! Van driver captured, attempting to flee the scene
Killer driver in custody after TEN reported dead and more seriously injured after rental van plows into Canadian pedestrians
Alek Minassian, 25, was arrested on Monday after he tried to flee the scene, abandoning the van he’d used for the vehicular assault
At least 15 more people seriously injured when a rental van drove on sidewalk targeting a mass of pedestrians in Toronto on Monday
Witnesses say several bodies were lying under tarps after the van struck scores of people on Yonge St. near Finch Ave, Toronto at 1.30p
Driver fled the scene but was stopped and arrested just a few blocks away
Casualties include children and the elderly
An injured pedestrian is transferred to a gurney by first responders after a van hit at least eight people in Toronto
Alek Minassian, 25, of Richmond Hill, was arrested on Monday after allegedly killing 10 people and injuring 15 others in Toronto
Toronto police confirmed that 10 had been killed and that the suspect was in custody after the tragedy, but are yet to confirm if the incident was a deliberate attack.
Witnesses however, say the driver seemed to be targeting pedestrians.
The van struck uscores of people on Yonge St. near Finch Ave, Toronto, at just before 1.30pm on Monday afternoon.
Police have identified the suspect as Alek Minassian, a 25-year-old from Richmond Hill, who was arrested shortly after the horror ordeal.
A white van has mowed down at least eight pedestrians in Canada , police say. Pictured, first responders treat some of the injured at the scene
This rental van driver fled the scene after striking the pedestrians. Cops were able to stop the driver a few blocks away
The driver responsible for the incident was arrested a few blocks away after the crash
A victim is covered with tarp while police cordon off the crime scene
Footage from the scene appeared to show the suspect pointing something at police before he was ordered to drop, and was arrested. He was taken into custody a few yards from a large white Ryder van which has serious damage to the front of the vehicle.
One witness said the driver seemed to be targeting pedestrians: “This person was intentionally doing this, he was killing everybody,” a witness at the scene, said.
“He kept going, he kept going. People were getting hit, one after another.”
This account of the carnage appears to be supported by local media account of events.
Jeremy Cohn, a reporter at the scene described the disturbing sight of bodies strewn ‘all over Yonge St.’
‘Some have been pronounced dead on scene,’ Global News journalist, Cohn, added.
‘I’ve now walked up Yonge St from north of Sheppard to Finch. I have passed multiple dead bodies covered up, shoes and debris in the road. Witnesses tell me the white van appeared completely out of control.’
For Jamie Eopni who witnessed the incident, the van driver ‘didn’t really look like he cared where he was going or what he was doing.’
‘It was crashing into everything. It destroyed a bench. If anybody was on that street they would have been hit on the sidewalk,’ Eopni said.
‘You could see exactly where he drove because of the tire marks. Just crashing into the poles, scraping along.’
EMS personel evacuate an injured person from the scene
Toronto Police are at the scene inspect the Ryder van used for the vehicular assault on pedestrains in Toronto on Monday
The Aerial shot of the chaos after the van struck scores of people on Yonge St. near Finch Ave, Toronto
EMS and law enforcement vehicles blocked off the street and officials asked people to avoid the area as they attend to felled pedestrians, with fatalities covered on the street
The van was heading southbound on Yonge St. when it jumped the curb, hitting the group of pedestrians on the sidewalk, the Toronto Sun reports.
Authorities are trying to establish a motive and to determine whether it was accidental or not.
A multi-casualty incident has been declared and officials are asking people to avoid the area. Surrounding subway stations have been closed.
Toronto Police are at the scene and have shut down the street as first responders treat some of the injured on the sidewalk, which shows blood stains from the impact.
By standers help resuscitate the horrific crash as one victims in Toronto
Reports indicate the van was a rental truck from Ryder – a truck rental and supply firm.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau passed along his thoughts, from the House of Commons on Monday afternoon.
‘Our thoughts are obviously with those affected by this incident,’ he said.
Toronto Mayor John Tory added that he was on his way to the scene and it was a ‘very tragic incident.’
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