Seven women have been taken to hospital after what police are describing as a mass-casualty motor vehicle collision that took place in the north-west end of the city Friday morning.
Two are in critical condition, one of which police said is the driver. The other person was pinned underneath the vehicle, but was removed by emergency responders. The full extent of injuries is still being assessed.
“What I can tell you now is that I anticipate criminal charges being laid later today,” said LPS Chief Thai Truong while addressing the media.
“We will update the public accordingly once that occurs.”
Multiple injuries were initially reported after a vehicle crashed into the rear wall of GoodLife Fitness at Sherwood Forest Mall around 7:40 a.m. Friday.
During the press conference, police confirmed the vehicle accelerated into the building. The investigation at the time of address did not indicate any signs of terrorism.
“Based on the information we have at this point, the vehicle entered the rear of the facility, breached the exterior wall, and entered an area where people were participating in a fitness class,” said Truong.
One witness, who was arriving to open her business, spoke with CTV News and said she saw a woman inside the vehicle parked about 50 metres from the building — and she suddenly raced across the parking lot, slamming through the wall.
Witnesses at the scene also said a fitness class with about 30 people in it was just getting underway in the GoodLife Fitness at the time of the crash.
These details have not been confirmed by police.
Anyone who was at the scene and has any information is urged to contact police. The investigation is ongoing.
Just before 11 a.m., London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) notified the public that it had activated a Level 1 Code Orange — which is done when an emergency in the community occurs and the hospital is required to shift normal operating processes to care for incoming patients.
Level 1 indicates an external disaster has occurred with multiple potential patients arriving at the hospital requiring a coordinated response with organizational resources streamlined to the Emergency Department. A full hospital response is not required.
The public is advised that if arriving at the emergency department, there may be longer than normal wait times.
Alternate healthcare options include:
- Your family doctor, nurse practitioner or their on-call service
- A walk-in clinic
- The Urgent Care Centre at St. Joseph’s Health Care London
- Virtual Urgent Care
- Health 811 at 1-866-797-0000
This is a developing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
