1 dead, 2 injured after being ‘struck intentionally’ by driver in North York

Toronto police’s homicide unit is investigating after three people were struck, one fatally, by the driver of a vehicle in a parking lot at an apartment building in North York in what investigators say was an intentional act of violence.

Emergency crews responded to the scene at 250 Cassandra Blvd. near Victoria Park Avenue at 12:40 p.m. on Wednesday.

Police say three people — two women and one man — were rushed to hospital, where one woman died. The two others were treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Police say an elderly male driver was arrested at the scene.

Detective Sergeant Brandon Price told reporters that the act was intentional and the parties involved, including the driver, were known to each other.

Sgt. Price said it’s believed to be a “familiar relation,” but that has not yet been confirmed. Additional charges are expected to be laid against the man in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.

“I heard screaming, somebody screaming ‘help, help, help,'” said Rudy Wachtel, a resident of the building. He added that he ran out of his apartment and found two residents lying on the ground.

While police have not specified the relationship between the victims and the suspect, Wachtel says the man – believed to be in his 70s – had problems with many people in the building.

“Complaining about everybody, somebody was smoking a pipe, and he nearly hit him …all this nonsense,” he said