Ontario teens flee police in vehicle, strike 3 pedestrians
Three teenagers — two 13-year-olds and a 15-year-old — are in police custody after a pick-up truck they were riding in struck and injured several pedestrians in Oshawa, Ont., early Sunday morning.
Police in Durham region said they were called to King Street West and Park Road at around 2:45 a.m., responding to reports of a vehicle driving erratically. When officers arrived at the scene, the vehicle sped away.
After a short pursuit, the truck struck three pedestrians — a 39-year-old male, a 28-year-old-male and a 32-year-old female, police said. All three pedestrians were rushed to Lakeridge Health hospital in Oshawa, and one of the male victims was later transferred to Toronto's St. Michael’s Hospital in critical condition. The woman has non-life threatening injuries.
Police said the vehicle stopped after hitting the pedestrians at the northwest corner of King Street West and Stevenson Road. The three male teenagers, who are from Whitby, then tried to flee the scene on foot, but were quickly apprehended and arrested by the officers.
Witness Mason Bergman, who was among the crowds celebrating Oshawa's Pride Week Saturday night, said he was getting ready to leave the Out Lounge & Eatery when the victims were hit.
"We heard this car screech and then a crash. We ran over to see what it was, and three of the people who had left the bar had been hit by a truck," he told CBC News.
He said the police arrived seconds later followed shortly by an ambulance.
"The three people were thrown in three different spots, and they were cut up. They weren't really responsive [but] they were still breathing," Bergman said. "It was kind of terrifying."
Bergman described seeing the suspects run off, across a parking lot.
"They looked like some young kids," he said.
Insp. Nick Lisi of the Durham Regional Police Service said the entire incident happened quickly.
"The pursuit was very quick. It was instantaneous," he said. "We're talking within this corridor right here, so at the speed it was travelling, it was very quick."
Police said they don't know which suspect was driving the truck or whether it was a stolen vehicle. No charges have yet been laid.
All three suspects are under the province's legal driving age.
Nine investigators from Ontario's Special Investigations Unit have been assigned to the case.
"Investigators are doing interviews as we speak," lead investigator Nelson Andrew told reporters Sunday afternoon. "We're trying to determine exactly how this situation occurred."
The SIU is asking any witnesses with information to contact (416) 641-1872 or visit www.siu.on.ca.
