One dead, another hurt after SUV mounts Scarborough sidewalk

Cause of Friday accident still under investigation

A 59-year-old pedestrian is dead and another has serious injuries after they were hit by an SUV during the morning rush hour near a Scarborough bus stop Friday.

Police responded to a collision just west of the intersection of Birchmount and Ellesmere Rds. at 6:49 a.m.

They found the 59-year-old woman unresponsive. She was later pronounced dead at the scene.

A man, 31, was found conscious and breathing and was transported to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

Toronto police Sgt. Alex Crews said two TTC buses were waiting at a bus stop on Ellesmere just west of Birchmount when the driver approaching in the westbound curb lane on Ellesmere mounted the sidewalk. “For some unknown reason the vehicle lost control,” Crews said.

The driver of the SUV struck the 59-year-old woman then continued on the sidewalk, hitting the 31-year-old man, he said.

Earlier police reports had said the male victim was 32 years old.

The SUV, a Nissan Pathfinder, continued off-road before coming to a stop in a flower bed about 40 metres west of the bus stop. Crews said he could not confirm whether the two pedestrians were waiting to get on the bus when they were hit.

The driver, a 46-year-old woman, is co-operating with investigators, he said.

“It’s still early on in the investigation to determine whether or not there was a medical episode or a mechanical failure of the vehicle,” he said.

Ellesmere is closed between Birchmount and Rolark Dr. while police investigate. TTC vehicles are diverting at the intersection.

Police are asking for any witnesses to come forward with information, including footage from nearby businesses and dash-cameras.

Thirty-four pedestrians and five cyclists have been killed on Toronto streets so far this year, according to figures compiled by the Star.

The combined total of 39 cyclist and pedestrian deaths is the highest by this date in any year since 2007, which is the earliest available year in police data.

The Star’s traffic fatality numbers are higher than the official police count. That’s in part because Toronto police figures don’t include deadly collisions that happen on private property, such as in the parking lots of apartment buildings or malls, or on provincial 400-series highways within Toronto.

November is often one of the worst months for traffic collisions in the city.

From 2007 to 2017, 46 pedestrians and cyclists were killed on Toronto streets in the month of November — the highest total for any month over that period.

Thirty-four pedestrians and five cyclists have been killed on Toronto streets so far this year