Police are investigating after two women and two young children were struck by the driver of an SUV in Richmond Hill on Thursday afternoon.
York Regional Police Duty Insp. Rich Gaudet said they received multiple 911 calls at 3:18 p.m. for a serious collision at the intersection of Major Mackenzie Drive and Newkirk Road.
When they arrived, police and paramedics located four injured pedestrians—two adult females and two children, ages 7 and 1.
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Gaudet said one woman was transported to a trauma centre with life-threatening injuries.
The other woman and her two children were also taken to a local hospital and were later discharged, he said.
The driver remained at the scene and co-operated with officers, Gaudet said.
The circumstances surrounding the collision are under investigation.
“As to why that vehicle hit the pedestrians, that’s going to form part of our investigation. We’re hoping that video and we’re hoping that witnesses can come forward and explain that to us,” Gaudet said.
Several businesses and residents nearby told CP24 that the woman who remains in the hospital is a crossing guard.
Moien Afza, who has lived in the area for three years, described the woman as a “very kind lady.”
“Everyone loves her. She walks all the kids across the street, keeps them safe away from danger,” Afza said.
When asked whether the woman was working as a crossing guard at the time of the incident, Gaudet would only confirm that she was wearing a reflective vest.
“With respect to her employment as a crossing guard, we have not been able to confirm that yet,” he said, adding that the Ministry of Labour has been notified.
