A woman is dead after being struck by a tractor-trailer at an intersection in Toronto's east end.

According to witnesses, the 56-year-old woman was riding a mobility scooter and had just entered the intersection at Carlaw Ave. and Gerrard St. E., when she was hit by a truck that was making a right-hand turn.

"She did suffer catastrophic injuries and as a result did die of those injuries," Const. Clint Stibbe told CTV Toronto.

Police said the woman was on the road and believe she was either travelling south or west at the time of the collision.

Police continue to investigate whether the truck or the woman had the right of way.

"We can't say they were correct in any fashion; what we have to look at is who had priority," Stibbe said.

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say she lived in the area.

The driver of the truck is co-operating with police.

Several area residents who use motorized scooters told CTV Toronto that they believe a truck sideguard could have saved the woman’s life.

The protective guards are meant to prevent an individual from getting trapped under a rig’s wheels.

But Stibbe told reporters at the scene that police believe the scooter may have been too heavy for a sideguard.

“The scooter averages around 350 lbs., that’s a lot of weight for a side skirt to have to move,” he said. “We’re not talking about a pedestrian who’s perhaps just being bumped, or even a cyclist.

“Those skirts may not be meant to protect an individual from that type of situation.”

Police are asking anyone with information about the collision to call investigators at 416-808-1900

With report from CTV Toronto’s Colin D'Mello