One person was killed and four others injured when a vehicle crashed into a drop-in centre at the corner of Rideau and Cobourg streets in downtown Ottawa on Wednesday morning.
The crash happened around 9 a.m. at the corner of Rideau and Cobourg streets, police said.
Ottawa police said four pedestrians were struck including a man in his 70s who paramedics said suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital in critical condition. Police said late Wednesday morning that he had died.
Paramedics said two other men were seriously injured and also taken to hospital in critical condition, but their injuries are not deemed life-threatening. The fourth pedestrian, a woman, was taken to hospital in stable condition.
Paramedics said the man who was driving the SUV was also injured and taken to hospital in stable condition.
Vehicle crashes into building, 1 dead, multiple injuries reported
The website for the Capital City Mission drop-in centre for vulnerable people says it opens at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays for food, coffee and warm clothes. The organization has not replied to a request for information.
Ottawa police said early Wednesday afternoon that they hadn’t yet determined the cause of the crash at this stage of the investigation.
Emergency officials give update following Rideau Street crash
It was snowing in Ottawa at the time, and Environment Canada had issued a special weather statement.
“I heard something like ‘boom,’ something crazy. I went outside and saw the car,” said Safouane Elattari, who works at a nearby restaurant.
Witnesses describe scene of crash along Rideau Street
The damaged vehicle was towed from the scene around 12:15 p.m.
Ottawa Fire Services spokesperson Nick DeFazio told reporters early Wednesday afternoon that the department’s specialized structural collapse team will need to reinforce the building after police are done at the scene.
Rideau Street is closed between Augusta and Chapel streets.
