2 pedestrians dead after being struck by driver who allegedly ran red light

Police take questions from media on the investigation into a collision that left two elderly pedestrians dead in Scarborough.

A man and a woman were struck and killed by a vehicle after a driver allegedly ran a red light in Scarborough on Friday afternoon.

Toronto police and paramedics were called to the intersection of Birchmount Road and Lawrence Avenue East at 1:48 p.m. for a collision.

Police said a 79-year-old woman driving a purple Toyota west on Lawrence Avenue East allegedly ran the red light at the intersection and collided with a southbound grey Mitsubishi.

The woman then hit two pedestrians, a 64-year-old man and 61-year-old woman, who were standing on the sidewalk, police said.

The two pedestrians were pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the vehicle also hit and knocked down a pole.

Their identities have not been released, as Toronto police Duty Insp. Errol Watson said investigators are still working to notify next of kin.

4 in hospital including child

Watson told reporters that there were two vehicles involved in the collision.

The female driver of one vehicle, along with a female passenger and a female child, was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Watson said.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, a 55-year-old woman, was also taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Watson said members of the Traffic Services Unit are investigating the circumstances of the incident.

“They are the ones who are going to be looking at all the evidence that is here, and they’ll be able to piece together what exactly occurred,” he said.

“I could not speculate at this time. What we’re working on right now is just compiling all the information.”

Watson asked anyone with information, including videos, to contact Traffic Services at 416-808-1900 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

The intersection was closed as police investigated the collision.