4 killed in fiery electric vehicle crash in downtown Toronto
5th person was pulled from burning vehicle by a Good Samaritan, police say
Four people lost their lives in a single-vehicle crash in downtown Toronto early Thursday, while a passing driver rescued the sole survivor from the burning car, according to police.
The crash occurred around 12:10 a.m. on Lake Shore Boulevard E. near Cherry Street.
Toronto police Duty Inspector Phillip Sinclair said a Tesla, carrying three men and two women, was traveling eastbound at high speed when the driver lost control and struck a guardrail. The car then collided with a concrete pillar.
"Upon impact, the vehicle then caught fire," Sinclair told reporters.
Deputy Fire Chief Jim Jessop, speaking alongside Sinclair, said that by the time firefighters arrived, the vehicle was engulfed in flames. Once the fire was extinguished, responders found four occupants inside the car, all of whom were pronounced dead at the scene. The victims, in their 20s and 30s, have not yet been identified, Sinclair said.
A woman in her 20s was pulled from the burning Tesla by a passing motorist who stopped to assist. She was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
Sinclair noted that investigators have interviewed the Good Samaritan.
"We have been speaking to them, and obviously they are also deeply affected by this incident. It’s a very horrific scene for that bystander to step into," he said.
The cause of the crash and subsequent fire is still under investigation. Police have asked any witnesses or individuals with dashcam footage to contact Traffic Services.
Jessop commented on the fire, noting that its intensity was linked to the vehicle’s battery cells. However, he emphasized that similar incidents have occurred with gasoline-powered cars.
"I don't want to suggest or comment until the investigation is complete," he said.
Jessop explained that electric vehicle fires are particularly challenging to manage, requiring significantly more water to extinguish. The disposal of damaged battery cells also poses a risk, as they can reignite weeks later due to a phenomenon known as thermal runaway, in which rising temperatures create a feedback loop that increases heat further.
One of the Tesla’s battery cells was ejected during the crash and had to be removed from the scene in a dumpster, covered with sand to prevent re-ignition, Jessop added.
Toronto Fire has been developing new protocols over the past year to address the risks posed by battery-related fires.
"This is an evolving technology, and we will continue to do our research and work with our peers across North America to ensure we follow best practices in the City of Toronto," he said.
