A tragic series of events unfolded late Friday night on Hwy. 401 in Etobicoke, where a 40-year-old woman lost her life after being struck by a vehicle. According to the Ontario Provincial Police, the incident began with a collision between an SUV and a passenger vehicle in the eastbound lanes near Eglinton Avenue West around 11:45 p.m.
Following the initial crash, the driver of the SUV, a Mississauga woman, exited her vehicle. Moments later, she was hit by another passing passenger vehicle in a secondary incident. Emergency responders rushed her to the hospital, but she was pronounced dead a short time later. Her name has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
The eastbound lanes of Hwy. 401 at Eglinton Avenue West were closed for several hours as Highway Safety Division officers conducted an investigation. Authorities are appealing to the public for any information or dashcam footage that might shed light on the sequence of events. Anyone with details is urged to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Separate Incident: Tow Truck Driver Dies in Brampton
In a separate and equally tragic incident earlier Friday evening, the Ministry of Labour has been called in to investigate the workplace death of a tow truck driver in Brampton. Peel Regional Police reported that the driver was working at an auto shop located at 277 Advance Boulevard, just east of Tomken Road and south of Steeles Avenue East, around 6:30 p.m.
The driver was in the process of unhooking a van from a flatbed truck when he somehow became pinned beneath the vehicle. Sergeant Taylor Halfyard explained to reporters at the scene that during the procedure, the victim ended up underneath the van, which then ran over him. Emergency responders attempted life-saving measures, but the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not yet been released.
Police investigators do not suspect any criminal intent in the incident. The Ministry of Labour will handle the investigation due to the workplace nature of the fatality. Halfyard noted that the exact circumstances leading to the accident are still under review.
These two deaths highlight the dangers faced on and around roadways, whether from secondary collisions or workplace incidents. Authorities continue to urge caution and vigilance.
