This is all that is left of a suspected stolen white SUV that became airborne after hitting a vehicle and leaving three people injured. Photo courtesy of CTV.
It was a life-and-death high-speed hit-and-run that sent three people to hospital and had area residents running for their lives.
Some 11 vehicles were hit as a fleeing white Jaguar SUV, believed to be stolen, left a trail of carnage as it sped east on Lake Shore Blvd. W., from Brown’s Line to Islington Ave., at speeds reported to be about 140 kilometres an hour.
Police said luckily no one was killed as the getaway occurred April 7 around 3 p.m. as students were leaving schools and walking home or to streetcar stops.
Officers said the SUV hit two vehicles at the traffic light at Kipling Avenue and sped off. It then smashed into a number of vehicles near Islington Avenue between Fifth and Sixth Streets.
Some 11 vehicles were hit by the fleeing SUV that shut down Lake Shore Blvd. W. for many hours.
Local barber Andy Dinner witnessed the Jaguar flying through the air after hitting a vehicle near Sixth Street.
“It (Jaguar) went flying in the air and would have hit me if it did not hit another car,” Dinner recalled.
Police said the 31-year-old SUV driver was extricated from the vehicle and charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. More charges are pending.
The driver and two other people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Dozens of witnesses gathered to watch as crews cleaned pieces of debris strewn across the roadway.
Three people, including the driver of the fleeing SUV, were rushed to hospital. Luckily no one was killed. Courtesy photo.
Tires from the SUV and another vehicle were laying on the road and the hood of a sedan was nearly ripped off.
Streetcar and vehicle traffic were rerouted as Lake Shore Blvd. W. was closed for hours due to the police investigation and cleanup.
Guy Jay said on social media that he was almost hit by the speeding SUN.
”That white car was zooming down Lakeshore at like 200km/hr,” he wrote. “He almost hit me and a bunch of kids crossing the street on Tenth Street.”
Dozens of people were out taking in the action that occurred in rush hour as students were leaving schools.
Jay said a crossing guard saw the speeding SUV and had to ensure no children were in danger.
“This could have been really awful,” he said. “The crossing guard saw it and acted quickly.”
Sraboni Shoeb Sonia said she saw the SUV fly through the air after hitting a vehicle.
“I saw it hit a black car and fly on the air and crash land,” Sonia said. “I think this was the most craziest thing I witnessed.”