Toronto police are reminding people to “stay off the ice” after a female who was pulled from a fully submerged car in Ashbridges Bay on Sunday night died.
“So it’s not just in terms of this investigation, but overall I just need to remind people that Lake Ontario, although it may appear frozen, no ice is safe ice. If you don’t know exactly how thick it is or if it hasn’t been tested by a professional through drilling, it’s impossible to tell how deep that ice is,” Const. Viktor Sarudi told CTV News Toronto on Monday afternoon.
“So whether you’re in a vehicle or whether you’re going to be doing ice fishing or skating or playing hockey, we suggest you stay off the ice.”
Sarudi further urged people not to enter the frigid water to try to rescue someone.
“Make sure you keep an eye on them, call the police or call 911 as soon as possible. Look around for anything that can help you, whether it’s one of those long metal hooks or they have the ring buoys around docks, just don’t put yourself in jeopardy to save someone,” he said.
At around 9:30 pm. last night, emergency crews were called to Ashbridges Bay Park Road, near Lake Shore Boulevard East and Lower Coxwell Avenue, following reports of a vehicle that had gone into the water.
Sarudi said primary response officers from nearby 55 Division were the first ones to arrive at the scene. They got there “within minutes,” he added, and saw the driver of the vehicle who had managed to get out of the water. They then learned that the passenger was still inside the car in the bay.
“That’s when officers made the quick decision to enter the freezing water and begin a rescue attempt,” he said, noting that the four officers were not properly equipped to enter the frigid water.
Those officers, Sarudi noted, were taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure, but have since been released and are expected to be OK.
He added that members of Toronto Police Service’s (TPS) marine unit arrived a short time later and were able to go further into the water to rescue the person trapped inside the vehicle.
The victim, who has only been identified as a female, died in the hospital on Monday morning. Her age and relationship to the driver has not been released at this point.
Toronto Fire previously told CP24 that a male was on the roof of the vehicle when emergency crews first arrived on scene. He was also taken to the hospital for treatment.
The circumstances leading up to the crash are being investigated. Traffic reconstruction and forensics teams were seen collecting evidence on Monday.
“I don’t know exactly how this vehicle ended up in the water,” Sarudi said.
A post-mortem examination is also being done to determine the victim’s cause of death.
Police have been canvassing the area for witnesses.
Anyone who saw what happened or anyone with further information is asked to contact TPS at 416-808-5500 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
