Canada- Two die in fiery Halloween crash

11-1-2008 Canada:

Five police officers, several passersby injured in rescue attempt

Two young women are dead and five police officers were sent to hospital after a fiery vehicle crash on Bayview Ave. and 16th Ave. Friday night.

A black Mazda travelling southbound drove onto the northbound lane of Bayview Ave., just north of 16th Ave., when it collided with a white Jeep Liberty SUV around 10:30 p.m., police say.

"It's obvious the driver of the Mazda lost control and crossed over the centre line where it struck the Jeep," said Const. Paul Diceman of York Region Collision Reconstruction.

Both vehicles caught fire immediately, Diceman said.

Of the three people riding in the Mazda, one died in the vehicle, the second was taken out of the vehicle but later died and the third was rescued and has been taken to Sunnybrook Hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police said the two deceased victims were in their 20s.

Diceman said police are still investigating but speed and alcohol may be factors.

"One of these two killed them, but which one, we don't know yet."

The occupants of the SUV were taken to York Central Hospital with non-life threatening injuries and were later released.

"Airbags and seatbelts are probably what saved them," Diceman said.

Five York Regional officers, along with several passersby who helped in in the rescue attempt, were also taken to York Central Hospital and treated for possible smoke inhalation and burns to their hands.

They were released this morning.

The officers and passerby were just a minute away when the collision occurred.

They didn't wait for the fire department to douse the flames, police say.

"We could have been looking at multiple fatalities here," Diceman said. "But it's bad enough as it is."

The vehicles were towed at 6 a.m. Firefighters kept the roads closed until morning because the roads were covered with gasoline.

Police interviewed witnesses at the scene. They are looking for the driver of a gold or tan Toyota Corolla that was driving southbound on Bayview Ave. at the time.

Anyone with information about the fatal collision should contact York Region police at 905-773-1221. ..News Source.. by Carmen Chai, Staff Reporter