High-speed chase of stolen vehicle led to fatal crash in Etobicoke: police
Posted March 20, 2023 6:58 am.
Last Updated March 20, 2023 11:56 am.
A crash in Etobicoke over the weekend that left a 37-year-old man dead was likely the result of a high-speed chase involving a stolen vehicle.
Police tell CityNews a woman had her SUV stolen early Sunday morning after she attended a bank on College Street near Spadina Avenue and left the vehicle running outside.
Investigators say the woman exited the bank and got into the passenger seat of a black Ford F150 that was being driven by her boyfriend. While the two were talking in the truck a man got into the running silver Ford Escape and drove away.
The pair in the pickup truck chased the stolen SUV through city streets and ended up on Dundas Street in Etobicoke. The vehicles were travelling westbound on Dundas approaching Islington Avenue when both lost control on the icy roads while rounding a curve.
A huge hole in backyard fence shows where stolen SUV crashed into backyard of home on Dundas by Islington. Police say the high-speed crash was result of driver of pickup chasing after the stolen SUV. Driver of SUV killed. 37 y/o driver of pickup arrested & facing charges pic.twitter.com/SNJLdH4dDk
— carl hanstke (@carlCityNews) March 20, 2023
Residents in the area describe hearing speeding vehicles followed by the loud sounds of a the crash.
Police say the SUV struck a tree and went through a fence into the backyard of a home. The 37-year-old driver of the stolen vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.
The pickup truck struck a concrete pole, causing it to rollover and come to a stop on the roadway. The female passenger was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The 37-year-old driver of the pickup truck, Christian Salazar of Toronto, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
The investigation is ongoing.
With files from Carl Hanstke and Hayley McGoldrick
