A 42-year-old man is dead after his motorcycle collided with several pedestrians on a busy stretch of Yonge Street downtown Saturday afternoon.
It happened shortly before 3 p.m. near the intersection of Yonge Street and Gerrard Street.
Witnesses told police events unfolded after the driver of the motorcycle switched from the centre lane to the curb lane to pass a slowing vehicle.
“At that point there was a woman who was standing on the sidewalk just ready to cross midblock from the east side to the west side,” Const. Hugh Smith told CP24. “The rider collided with the woman. He got separated from the motorcycle and unfortunately as he did he was ejected and struck one of the light poles on Yonge Street.”
The motorcycle continued on several metres, striking and lightly injuring a male pedestrian.
The rider was rushed to hospital but died of his injuries, while the 21-year-old female pedestrian was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Yonge Street was closed northbound from College Street to Gerrard Street for several hours following the collision.
Police initially said the driver of another vehicle fled the scene. They later clarified that was not the case.
Ontario Provincial Police urged motorists Saturday to use extra caution as the warmer weather may encourage riskier behaviour on the roads. They said a number of serious collisions have already led to injuries and several fatalities over the past few days.
“Over the past few days, police have observed a marked increase in those who use our roadways and highways and sadly, we have seen a number of serious collisions already that have involved motorcycles,” OPP said in a release.
Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call police at (416) 808-1900.
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