A 39-year-old woman has died after being struck by a truck in Toronto's Cabbagetown neighborhood on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred at the intersection of Parliament Street and Wellesley Street East around 2 p.m. Emergency services responded to the scene, but the woman was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at a local hospital.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. The driver of the truck remained at the scene and is cooperating with authorities. No charges have been filed at this time. The intersection was closed for several hours as investigators gathered evidence and spoke with witnesses.
Investigation Details
Toronto Police Service's Traffic Services unit is leading the investigation. They are reviewing surveillance footage and speaking with witnesses to determine the cause of the crash. Preliminary reports suggest that the truck was making a turn when it struck the pedestrian. Speed and impairment are not believed to be factors.
This tragic incident adds to the growing concern over pedestrian safety in the city. According to data from Toronto Police, there have been 15 pedestrian fatalities in the city so far this year, compared to 12 at the same time last year.
Community Response
Local residents and community leaders have expressed shock and sadness over the incident. Cabbagetown is a densely populated area with heavy foot traffic, and many are calling for increased safety measures, such as improved crosswalks and traffic calming measures.
Councillor for the area, Kristyn Wong-Tam, issued a statement saying, "This is a devastating loss for our community. We must do everything we can to prevent these tragedies. I will be working with city staff to review the intersection and implement safety improvements."
The victim's identity has not been released pending notification of next of kin. Anyone with information or dashcam footage is asked to contact Toronto Police at 416-808-1900 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
