'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.”Carlos Talero speaks with CTV News London about what he saw during a crash involving multiple pedestrians and vehicles, Nov. 30, 2021. (Jaden Lee-Lincoln / CTV News)
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
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.
Democrat who ran on abortion rights flips seat in deeply conservative Alabama
Marilyn Lands, who campaigned on abortion rights in deeply conservative Alabama, won a special election to the Alabama Legislature, in a victory that Democrats say illustrates voter backlash to extreme reproductive restrictions imposed by Republicans.