Man, 68, killed in fiery crash on Gardiner Expressway

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One man was killed in a horrific fiery crash involving at least five vehicles on a busy downtown highway Tuesday afternoon.

Toronto Police say the multi-vehicle collision occurred in the westbound lanes of the Gardiner Expressway near Lower Jarvis St. just after 5:30 p.m.

“Three vehicles caught fire following the collision,” Const. Viktor Sarudi said in a statement released Wednesday. “One vehicle flipped onto its side against the barrier and was fully engulfed in flames.

Various videos posted on social media show one car on its side with its undercarriage pressed up against the concrete barrier separating the westbound and eastbound lanes of the highway. Another car and a pickup truck can be seen wedged up against the roof of the car on its side.

Two other damaged vehicles can be seen in the next lane over – one of them came to rest sideways on the Gardiner.

Some motorists can be seen in the videos using handheld fire extinguishers to try to put out the flames shooting up from the car on its side while others help victims from the wreckage get to safety.

The fire is seen in some video footage spreading to the second car and a pickup that were wedged against the roof of the car on its side.

The driver of one of the vehicles – a 68-year-old man – was pronounced dead at the scene, Sarudi said.

He said four people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and two others were treated by paramedics at the scene.

“Police are asking local residents, businesses, and drivers who may have security or dash camera footage of the area, or incident, to contact investigators,” Sarudi said.

Anyone with information regarding this deadly crash is urged to call Traffic Services at 416-808-1900 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

cdoucette@postmedia.com

@sundoucette