9 dead, at least 16 injured after van strikes pedestrians in north Toronto

Kill me,” he yells, repeatedly gesturing his hand from his back pocket toward the officer.

Toronto Police Deputy Chief Peter Yeun stressed at a press conference Monday evening that “all available resources have been brought in to address this tragic situation.”

He said police will be setting up two hotlines; one for victims’ families, and one for witnesses.

He added, “This is going to be a complex investigation."

Michele Kelman, who works at an IT company with an office on Yonge St., said she was walking back to work after lunch with a friend when they heard screams .

Ms. Kelman said she turned and saw objects and bodies flying through the air and the front end of a white van heading straight down the sidewalk toward her.

She turned instinctively, trying to shield herself, and the truck rushed past without touching her.

When she turned back she saw only carnage. “My friend was gone,” she said. “I couldn’t find her body for a while. There were a few around. And there were people trying to bring her back.”

Aerial footage from the scene showed multiple victims on the sidewalk covered with orange tarps, as police taped off the surrounding blocks. The area resonated with the sound of fire-truck and ambulance sirens and the thuds of rotors of helicopters flying overheard, as police spoke with witnesses.

The rental company extended its condolences to victims and said it is co-operating with police.

 Claudia Panfil, spokeswoman for Miami-based Ryder System, Inc., said by e-mail Monday, “We are saddened by this tragic event, and our deepest sympathies go out to those impacted. We take the safety and security related to the use of our entire fleet very seriously and we are cooperating fully with authorities."