A woman is seriously injured after being struck by an Eglinton Crosstown LRT vehicle being tested in Scarborough on Saturday afternoon.
The 64-year-old woman was crossing the LRT track near Eglinton and Pharmacy avenues just before 1 p.m. when she was struck head-on by a westbound train, ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ police Acting Duty Insp. Brian Maslowski told reporters at the scene.
Maslowski said the woman was not at a crosswalk but was attempting to cross “a raised section” of the tracks in between intersections when she was hit. She was trying to cross from the north side of Eglinton Avenue East to the south side, investigators said in a Sunday.
She was rushed to a nearby trauma centre with life-threatening injuries where she remains in serious condition. Police initially told the Star the victim was a 25-year-old woman, but later confirmed her age to be 64.
According to police, the long-awaited Eglinton LRT was conducting tests at the time of the collision. The driver attempted to alert the woman and slow the vehicle, Maslowski said, but was unsuccessful.
“Unfortunately, it did not end well,” he said, adding that the driver “is being looked after†and has been offered the necessary supports.
The train remained at a stop at the scene on Saturday afternoon. Officers and transit staff canvassed for witnesses and dashcam footage, and the police Collision Reconstruction Unit had begun their initial investigation.Â
“If you witnessed this incident, or you have dashcam video, please contact our traffic investigators or detectives,†Maslowski said.
COLLISION:
— ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Police Operations (@TPSOperations)
Pharmacy Ave & Eglinton Ave E
12:56 pm
- reports a pedestrian has been struck by LRT (Light Rail Transit) vehicle
- police o/s
- pedestrian transported to hospital via trauma run
^sc
When reached for comment, Metrolinx, the provincial transit agency that owns the line, said it is working in conjunction with the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Transit Commission, set to operate the trains, and investigating officials to learn more about the incident. It directed further questions to police.
“Our thoughts are with all impacted by this event and we thank emergency responders for their quick response,” Metrolinx said in a statement to the Star.
The TTC did not respond to the Star’s request for comment by publication time.
Police and transit staff canvassed the area for witnesses and dashcam footage of the collision on Saturday.
R.J. Johnston/ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ StarThe Eglinton Crosstown LRT, first announced in 2007, has taken more than a decade to come together.Â
While officials previously suggested a September opening, outgoing TTC CEO Greg Percy said in July that further delays were likely, and that a fall opening would be “a reach.”
When completed, the LRT would connect east and west ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ with stops running from Kennedy through Mount Dennis.
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