Toronto cops nabbed the suspected driver who plowed into a group of people on a crowded city street Monday afternoon, leaving nine people dead. 16 people have been injured, Deputy Chief Peter Yuen said.
Police confirmed to Fox News the arrest of the suspect, which came just minutes after news of the incident broke. "The van involved in multiple pedestrians stuck in the Yonge and Finch area of Toronto has been located and the driver arrested," Toronto police tweeted.
Cops initially said eight to 10 people were hit near Yonge Street and Finch Avenue just before 1:30 p.m., but they later clarified it was too early to confirm the number of injuries. A nearby hospital tweeted that it took in seven patients.
After striking the pedestrians, the driver sped off, CBC reported.
The extent of the injuries at the scene is unknown; however, photos from the site of the collision showed pedestrians attempting to help people on the ground and multiple bodies covered by sheets.
A witness who identified himself as Nick said he was studying when he saw a truck “flash by” in the area. He said he “witnessed a few people pass away in front” of him as others screamed.
“[The driver] was definitely in control of what he was doing…he knew what he was doing,” Nick told Global News.
Alex Shaker, who witnessed the incident, said the van was speeding down the street before it mounted the curb and plowed into people.
“He started going down on the sidewalk and crumbling down people one by one,” Shaker told CTV. “He just destroyed so many people’s lives. Every single thing that got in his way.”
A worker at a gym in a building next to the site of the incident told Fox News that employees were told to stay inside as first responders tended to the scene.
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