UPDATE: Police, ministry investigate after man critically injured as autonomous bus crashes in Whitby

The driver of an autonomous bus was critically injured when the vehicle crashed Thursday night, Dec. 16, in Whitby, according to police.

Durham police reported the incident on Twitter. The crash occurred in the area of Watson and Victoria Streets, at around 3:50 p.m., police said. The vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a tree, police confirmed.

According to Metrolinx Chief Spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins, the vehicle was on its way back to storage when the incident occurred, the Toronto Star reported Thursday night.

As far as we are aware, no customers were on board at the time as the vehicle was returning at the end of the shift," Aikins told The Star in a statement.

Police confirmed the 23-year-old safety attendant injured in the crash was the only person aboard the vehicle.

Whitby is the first region within North America to offer a self-driving shuttle as part of a regional transit system, the Star reported.

According to Connect Whitby, the shuttle incorporating smart technology operates at a speed of no more than 20 km/h and has a trained safety attendant on board at all times who can manually take control of the vehicle at any time, if required."

The male driver of the vehicle was taken to a Toronto trauma centre with critical injuries, Durham police reported.

Police also indicated that investigators with the provincial Ministry of Labour attended the crash scene.

Witnesses are asked to call police at 905-579-1520, extension 5226.