'Nothing to indicate intentional act': Several pedestrians struck in London, Ont.
Several pedestrians were taken to hospital after they were struck by driver in a vehicle in west London, Ont, Tuesday evening.
Emergency crews were called to the area of Riverside Drive and Wonderland Road around 6:45 p.m. for a report of a collision involving multiple pedestrians.
Media officer with the London Police Services (LPS) Constable Sandasha Bough tells CTV News London there is no information available at this time on the ages of the people involved but injuries range from minor to life threatening.
According to Miranda Bothwell with Middlesex-London Paramedic Services nine people were injured in the crash. Eight people were taken to hospital, three of whom were in critical condition. A ninth individual was assessed on scene.
Bothwell also tells CTV News that one of the individuals taken to hospital was in cardiac arrest.
The ages of the patients can not be confirmed as officials are continuing to work with next of kin.
Carlos Talero witnessed the crash and recounted what he saw to CTV News London.
“I didn’t see the pedestrian[s], I was focused on the car in front of me because this crazy driver was very fast and really close to us,” said Talero. “[The driver] was very fast on Riverside... and [the driver] just didn’t stop at the red light. This [driver] didn’t stop at all.”
Police have not said if speed was a factor as they have not released any details of their investigation at this time due to it being in the early stages.
Bough says multiple vehicles are involved and the pedestrians were struck on a path along Riverside Drive near the entrance to an apartment building.
The crash was not a police chase and is not considered a hit-and-run crash, according to Bough.
While it is still early on in the investigation, police say there is nothing to indicate that this was an intentional act and that the driver did remain on scene.
The distinction comes at a time when London continues to grapple with the events of June 6, when a driver allegedly targetted a family in West London leaving four members of the same family killed, and a young boy seriously injured.
Police Chief Steve Williams took to twitter to urge Londoners to avoid further specualation regarding the collision.
"Avoid speculation about the nature of the incident. We must let the officers do their jobs," wrote Williams.
Meanwhile condolences began pouring in online including from London's Mayor Ed Holder.
Wonderland Road was closed between Springbank Drive and Kingsway Avenue and Riverside Drive was closed between Braemar Crescent and Warren Road.
As of Wednesday morning the area has once again opened to traffic.
— With files from CTV London's Daryl Newcombe and Jaden Lee-Lincoln
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