

Joshua Freeman, CP24.com





A man in his 50s has been pronounced dead after being struck and pinned by a streetcar in the Riverside area.

It happened on Queen Street, near Hamilton Street, a block west of Broadview Avenue.

Police were initially not clear about whether the man was walking or riding a bike when he was struck.

However according to the latest information from police at the scene, the man appears to have been riding his bike east in the curb lane on Queen Street when he apparently lost control of the bike and fell into the path of an oncoming streetcar.

Reports from the scene indicated that the man become trapped under the vehicle, Toronto police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Members of the local community said the man who died lived in a “close-knit community” at a transitional residence in Leslieville, not far from where he was struck.

Some members of that community showed up at the scene with tears in their eyes as they learned that their friend had been fatally struck.

The TTC said it is assisting police as they work to reconstruct exactly what happened.

“The TTC is assisting police with their investigation. Our thoughts at this time are with the victim’s family and friends, as well as with our operator,” TTC spokesperson Brad Ross said in a tweet.

Police said the man was not wearing a helmet when he was struck.

Queen Street has been completely shut down between Broadview and Davies avenues as police investigate the fatal incident.