Toronto | Four people injured by a car on a university campus

(Toronto) The driver of a vehicle that struck several pedestrians on the city center campus of the Metropolitan University of Toronto may have targeted a particular person on the sidewalk before fleeing at full speed, police said on Tuesday.

Four people were injured in the offense of flight, two of which were transported to hospital. No student or staff member of the university was present, the police said.

The collision occurred shortly before 2 p.m. on the Campus Nelson Mandela promenade, the police said. A pedestrian walk bordered by trees next to the university library which connects the streets Gould and Gerrard.

Although the investigation is still at its beginnings, it seems that the vehicle intentionally targeted a person on the sidewalk, advanced inspector Todd Jocko from the Toronto police.

“We are still working to confirm all these details, but at this point, it seems that it is an isolated incident,” Jocko told journalists present on the scene.

He added that the driver and the targeted person may know each other, but that the exact nature of their relationship was not yet known.

The vehicle was described as a green sedan with a broken windshield and the license plate DED-565. The police did not provide a driver’s description.

According to the inspector, the two people transported to hospital seemed to be passers -by. The other two pedestrians involved suffered from very light injuries.

Witnesses in shock

An employee of the Metropolitan University of Toronto, whose office gives on the scene, said that she suddenly heard cries outside, then saw a car hitting the gateway at full speed.

“And three seconds later, I said to myself:” Oh my God, Oh my God! ” “Said Jama Bin-Edward, a program administrator working at 10^e floor of the Jorgenson pavilion of the Metropolitan University of Toronto.

M^me Bin-Edward said he saw people being placed on civilians after the arrival of the police and firefighters, and other individuals seize their shoes lost in the jostling to get in safety.

She said that the majority of those present on the bridge at that time were probably students, but that anyone could have walked on the campus.

“It could have been anyone for walking, it’s completely crazy,” she said.

The police said that the suspect vehicle had been seen for the last time circulating in the direction is on rue Gould to rue Church.

Other witnesses said that the car had entered the bridge from Gerrard Street. There seemed to be no physical barrier preventing cars from circulating on the bridge from this street before the incident, although two large planters were placed there afterwards.

Isaac Meng, an international student at the university, said he heard a roar car and people screaming. He then went out and saw a person lying near a bench, who did not seem to react.

“It was pretty crazy,” said the student. I always think that this kind of events always occurs in films or documentaries, but they have indeed produced on campus. »»

The area was completed with yellow ribbon on Tuesday and several police officers were deployed.

A security alert published by the University advised to avoid the sector, but specified that there was no impact on courses or exams and that employees had to continue working normally.

“Our thoughts accompany people injured and affected by this incident,” said the university in a statement. We remind members of our community that university support services are available for those who need it. »»

Municipal councilor Chris Moist, who represents the region, said that the incident reminded him of the 2018 van attack in the north of Toronto, who had killed several people. He said he was relieved to learn that no death had been reported in the Tuesday accident.

“This is why it was so important for me to come here, you know, and to testify my support for the student population and the staff present,” he told journalists on the scene.