A car with an Uber sticker on it was involved in a three-vehicle crash in downtown Thursday afternoon that hurt six people, including a woman who sustained life-threatening injuries.

The others injured, including a child, suffered serious trauma.

Toronto police believe one of the drivers involved ran a red traffic light, “causing a chain of actions” that led to the crash at the intersection of Bay and College Sts., Sgt. Brett Moore told reporters.

Paramedics arrived around 3:20 p.m., and rushed six people to hospital, including the child, who were all injured in the crash, said deputy commander Evert Steenge.

Police said all five adult victims of the crash were female.

Three of the people taken to hospital were pedestrians, including the child who was in a stroller, said Sgt. David Hopkinson. He added the others injured were all in cars.

Four people have been taken to hospital, including a woman who sustained life-threatening injuries, following a three-vehicle collision in downtown Thursday afternoon. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star)

At least one driver is among the injured, said Steenge.

Nathaniel D’Ior said he was only a few feet away when he saw the black SUV run a red light, striking several pedestrians, then hit a white car and attempt to turn.

As the car turned, it hit another vehicle, a black pick-up truck, D’Ior said.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” the 23-year-old told the Star. “It was honestly just surreal.”

In a statement, Uber confirmed the black SUV belonged to one of its drivers, after a Star photographer shot a photo showing it had a company sticker on its rear passenger windshield as mandated by Toronto’s Uber regulations.

Uber said it has removed the driver’s access to its app.

“We extend our thoughts to all those involved in this incident,” said spokesperson Kayla Whaling. “We stand ready to assist authorities and will provide any information to them for their investigation.”

Moore said investigators are not sure if speed was a factor in the collision, but police are “positive we’ll find out exactly what happened.”

“It happened to be during rush hour in a busy downtown area when this happened, so lots of people should have dash-cam footage,” he added.

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Traffic Services closed nearby lanes for more than four hours to investigate along with collision reconstruction and hit-and-run teams.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact 416-808-1900 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).

Under stricter rules approved by city council in July, more than 90,000 Uber, Lyft and other ride-hailing service drivers will have to undergo mandatory training before they’re allowed to drive in Toronto.

By the end of 2020, drivers will have to show proof that they have passed a “third-party training program,” approved by city staff. They will also have to have three years’ driving experience, up from one now, and affix their smartphones or other devices to the vehicle’s interior.

Temur Durrani is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @temurdur

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