Pedestrian killed after vehicle crashes into Ottawa building

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One dead after vehicle crashed into Rideau Street building

Scenes from the fatal crash on Rideau Street

Eyewitness account: Pedestrians struck by a vehicle in Ottawa

A pedestrian has died from his injuries after being struck by an SUV on a sidewalk in Ottawa, according to police.

Five people, including four pedestrians, were transported to the hospital after the vehicle crashed into a building that houses a drop-in centre on Rideau Street at Cobourg Street at about 9 a.m. Wednesday.

An elderly man was treated at the scene for life-threatening injuries and transported to the hospital in critical condition. The Ottawa Police Service told CTV News Ottawa the victim, a man in his 70s, died from his injuries.

Ottawa Paramedic Service spokesperson Marc-Antoine Deschamps said two other men were transported to the hospital in critical condition, and a woman was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and transported to the hospital in stable condition.

Deschamps says the man driving the vehicle was taken to hospital in stable condition.

Police initially reported there were “multiple serious injuries after a vehicle struck a building.”

The SUV crashed into a building that houses The Drop-In Centre.

Roads were snow-covered in downtown Ottawa Wednesday morning after a system brought four centimetres of snow to the area.

An Ottawa police spokesperson said it’s too early to say whether speed, impairment or weather conditions played a role in the crash.

“Our units are on scene, our investigators are on scene,” Const. Fern John-Simon told CTV News Ottawa.

“And that will definitely be something that will be looked into and investigated.”

John-Simon added, “there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to determine the cause. If weather conditions, impairment, all of that.”

Police say investigators would like to speak with anyone who witnessed the collision or may have dashcam footage of the incident. You can contact the Fatal Collision Investigation Unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 2345.

‘I’m very lucky to be OK’

Jennifer Sackaney told CTV News Ottawa she was standing in line when the SUV came onto the sidewalk and struck the building.

“This car just came out of nowhere full speed and missed me by an inch and knocked me on the ground and hit two people in front of my eyes,” Sackaney said, adding she was knocked into a snowbank.

“I’m in total disbelief right now.”

Sackaney said the speeding vehicle was travelling “way too fast.”

“It happened so fast and it came out of nowhere. It was coming really fast, the car,” she said.

“I’m very lucky to be OK right now.”

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe said he was “shocked” when he heard about the crash.

“It’s a tragic story,” Sutcliffe said.

“For something like that to happen on the streets of Ottawa is very difficult to hear and all of my thoughts are with the victim and his family, and the other victims that are injured. I hope they’re able to recover quickly.”

Rideau Street was closed between Cobourg and Augusta while police investigated.

The Drop-In is run by Capital City Mission. According to its website, the Drop-In is open daily Monday through Friday, and visitors can receive a meal, coffee, tea, socks, toques, and “whatever else we can provide through generous donations.”

“Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of the individual who passed away, those who are injured, and the driver of the vehicle. We are holding them in our prayers during this incredibly difficult time,” Capital City Mission wrote in a statement to CTV News.

“Each of the people injured today was a beloved member of the Capital City Mission community. Our focus right now is supporting our community as we await notice about when we may re-enter our building.”

Capital City Mission says it sees between 160 and 180 people a day.’

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Katie Griffin and Dave Charbonneau

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