Tire tracks and a pilon mark the spot where a vehicle crashed into a light standard before hitting a group of pedestrians on Riverside Drive west of Wonderland Road, December 1, 2021. (Photo by Craig Needles, Blackburn Media)Tire tracks and a pilon mark the spot where a vehicle crashed into a light standard before hitting a group of pedestrians on Riverside Drive west of Wonderland Road, December 1, 2021. (Photo by Craig Needles, Blackburn Media)
London

8-year-old girl dead after vehicle hits group of pedestrians in west London

An 8-year-old girl is dead and several others hurt after a vehicle crashed into a group of pedestrians in west London Tuesday night.

In an update late Wednesday morning, London police confirmed 11 people were injured in the collision on Riverside Drive west of Wonderland Road. Nine of those individuals, who are all female and range in age from six to 40, had to be rushed to hospital by ambulance. One adult and four children remain in hospital in fair condition, another child is listed in good condition and one teenager and two children have been treated and released.

There are reports the group was a Girl Guide troop that was walking in the area. LondonNewsToday.ca has reached out to Girl Guides of Canada for confirmation, but as of publication had not received a response.

According to police, a vehicle, driven by a 76-year-old woman, was heading west on Riverside Drive around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday when it hit another vehicle stopped at a red light at Wonderland Road. The vehicle continued through the intersection, mounted a curb and hit a light post and tree before striking a group of people walking east on Riverside. The vehicle finally came to a stop by a tree on the south side of the street.

The driver was not hurt and remained at the scene, police said. She was not taken to hospital following the crash.

While the investigation is ongoing, police have reassured the community there is nothing to indicate the crash was intentional.

At this point, no charges have been laid.

Police are continuing their investigation, and they believe there's another driver who may have key information.

"At least one (vehicle) was stopped at the red light, the involved vehicle went through the intersection, striking at least that one car, possibly a second car," said London Police Constable Sandasha Bough. "If you happened to have your vehicle struck, and you were at this intersection at approximately 6:45 p.m., please give us a call."

"There's information that there may have been a second vehicle, but that's not confirmed at this time," she added.

The collision kept Wonderland Road between Springbank Drive and Kingsway Avenue and Riverside Drive between Braemar Crescent and Warren Road closed for roughly 12 hours. All streets were reopened just after 7 a.m. Wednesday. Word of the crash sent shockwaves through the London community which is still reeling from a June hit-and-run collision on Hyde Park Road that left four members of a Muslim family dead and a fifth with injuries.

Mayor Ed Holder took to social media to express his heartbreak over the 8-year-old girl's death.

"This is beyond tragic," said Holder. "All Londoners share in this grief. Our thoughts also remain fixated on those still in hospital as we hope and pray for complete recoveries."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also tweeted out remarks about the incident.

https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1466113686637064203

 - With files from Craig Needles

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