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A Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) bus driver pulled a man from a burning, possibly stolen car after a “very serious crash” in the Forest Hill neighbourhood of the city early Wednesday, police say.
The collision happened around 4:50 a.m. near the corner of Bathurst Street and Eglinton Avenue W.
Toronto police Insp. Brian Maslowski said preliminary evidence suggests the driver of a Honda sedan was speeding eastbound on Eglinton when he slammed into a TTC bus heading northbound on Bathurst.
He hit the bus “with such force” that it went careening into a second TTC bus going the opposite direction, Maslowski said.
The Honda then burst into flames, he added. Through a “heroic effort,” one of the TTC bus operators rescued the driver from the burning Honda before emergency services arrived on scene, according to Maslowski.
The driver of the Honda, who Maslowski described as middle-aged, was taken to a trauma centre with life-threatening injuries.
Three other people, including one of the TTC drivers and two bus passengers, were taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
There are “early indications” the Honda may have been stolen, Maslowski said.
In a statement, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) 113 said the man behind the wheel of the Honda was unconscious when the bus driver pulled him from the vehicle.
“By rescuing the motorist, the operator acted selflessly and went beyond his duties to ensure the safety of others. He is proud to be able to help someone in danger,” ATU President Marvin Alfred said.
“We as a union are proud to call him a selfless hero,” he said.
ATU’s statement also claims the motorist ran a red light prior to the crash. Earlier Wednesday, a police spokesperson said that was being investigated as a potential factor in the crash, though Maslowski made no mention of it when he spoke to reporters at the scene.
The intersection of Bathurst and Eglinton was closed for the investigation. Police did not say when they expect it to reopen.
The TTC said the 7 Bathurst bus is detouring in the area, and there is no service between six streets north of Eglinton and 11 streets south of Eglinton.