Hamilton police working to identify victims in east Hamilton crash that killed four
Flames pour out of a totalled car, creeping up the side of an east Hamilton pizzeria. Someone can be heard shouting get the f--k away," as a pair of unknown people hurry toward the north side of King Street East.
That is the grisly scene captured on video by passerby Zephyr O'neill just minutes after Hamilton police say the male driver of a stolen 2004 Toyota Prius speeding westbound on Main Street East lost control and jumped the curb, smashing into the hydro pole just outside the Pizza Pizza at the Delta.
O'neill stumbled upon the scene moments after the horrific crash, which took the lives of four people - including the driver - early Saturday morning.
I saw a fire, so I went closer and contacted my friend, who lives in the building that the vehicle had crashed next to," said O'neill, in a message to The Spectator.
A few (people) attempted to try to get closer to help the one body we saw hanging out of a separate vehicle, but they decided it was too risky with the hanging wires and billowing flames," he added.
The aftermath of the crash was obvious Monday afternoon.
The side of the building and sidewalk were both scorched. A makeshift memorial of flowers and cards had been attached to the now-replaced hydro pole.
Hamilton police say they are still working to identify the victims as well as the cause of the fiery crash.
Speaking to The Spectator on Monday, Const. Krista-Lee Ernst said investigators are expecting to release the names of those involved in the crash in the coming days, pending positive identification" through autopsies that were scheduled to take place that morning.
The nature of this incident poses both investigative and forensic challenges," said Ernst, speaking to the collision. There are elements of the investigation that take time and need to be processed through the Ontario forensic pathology unit."
Few details are known about those involved in the crash. Police said the driver was a man, but no further information has been released about the victims.
However, in an emailed statement to The Spectator, Pizza Pizza Ltd. spokesperson Adrian Fuoco confirmed that two of the victims were workers contracted to perform maintenance on restaurant equipment."
This is a tragic loss of life and we offer our sincere condolences to the families of all impacted," said Fuoco.
Speaking to reporters near the crash site Saturday afternoon, Const. Indy Bharaj said the deadly crash happened just before 2 a.m. on Saturday morning just past the intersection of Main Street East and King Street East at the Delta.
The driver of the car was killed in the crash along with three pedestrians. Flying debris struck a fourth passerby, who was transported to hospital with serious injuries.
Ernst confirmed that the car was stolen from a parking lot in the area of Barton Street East and Kenilworth Avenue North shortly before the crash. Police were not in pursuit of the vehicle, noted Bharaj.
Ernst said investigators are still working to determine what caused the crash and that all factors are being considered and investigated."
Impairment had not been eliminated as of Monday morning, she added, noting that toxicology results of the driver will take time to come back to investigators.
Video recorded by a security camera on the exterior of Main Billiard Lounge, at Main Street East and Kensington Avenue North, may provide an indication of how fast the car was going.
A staffer at the pool hall told The Spectator he witnessed video footage that shows the car speeding by seconds before the crash.
It was going fast, oh yeah, you can tell," said the staffer, who asked that his name not be published.
Moments after he heard a loud bang inside the pool hall, he ran outside and saw a car on fire, he said, and then he dialed 911.
He said police were informed of the security video, and it was sent to an investigator.
He added that speed has long been a dangerous problem at the Delta that has led to accidents in the past.
Many details of the crash remain unknown. Ernst said police are still working to determine the route the driver travelled in the time between stealing the car and the horrific collision.
Ernst said investigators continue to ask both residents and businesses along Main Street East and motorists who were in the area who may have video footage of the driver to call police by at 905-546-4755 or 905-546-4753.
-With files from Jon Wells
Fallon Hewitt is a reporter at The Spectator. fhewitt@thespec.com