OFF THE RAILS
Queens Quay shut down after streetcar collides with an ambulance,
A TTC streetcar derailed on Queens Quay W. at York St. after a collision with an ambulance Wednesday morning.
The collision occurred at 9:55 a.m. Toronto paramedics told the Star that there were no injuries.
Roads were closed until about 12:30 p.m., TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said.
Precautionary paramedics were ordered on scene.
Photos of the scene showed the streetcar off the tracks beside an ambulance bearing a large dent in the passenger-side door.
A front-left panel of the streetcar appeared to be damaged, with debris scattered along the length of the first car.
The streetcar involved in the collision was one of dozens scheduled to go back to manufacturer Bombardier as part of a recall first reported by the Star in July.
Officers were on scene to ensure that passengers were cleared out of the streetcar. It is unknown how many passengers were on board.
A witness who works nearby and asked that his name not be published told the Star the ambulance was headed east on Queens Quay when it abruptly turned into the path of the streetcar, which was also headed east.
Cindy Lee, who works at a souvenir store on Queens Quay, said she didn’t see the crash but heard a loud “kung” noise as the vehicles collided, and then saw a crowd of people exiting the streetcar.
She said she wasn’t surprised about the crash, because since the city reconfigured the waterfront street in 2015, she believes there have been more conflicts between road users.
“If they’re smart enough they should know, this road is some- thing wrong,” Lee said.
Peter Bonch, who lives on Queens Quay, agreed that the new configuration of the street has made collisions more likely.
“You got the pedestrians, then you have the bike path, then you have this little roadway, right, and then the streetcar. The worst-designed thing ever,” he said.
The city, TTC and Waterfront Toronto are co-operating on a review of the Queens Quay de- sign, according to the transit agency.
Wednesday’s collision is the latest incident to mar one of the TTC’s new streetcars, which cost almost $5 million each.