A TTC bus driver has been charged with careless driving after making a quick stop that sent passengers tumbling and left nine injured.

The bus was travelling south on Bay St. around 9 a.m. when it came to an abrupt stop as it approached Wellesley St.

Police said the driver stepped hard on the brakes to avoid colliding with a car directly ahead, which was stopped at the intersection.

The sudden movement caused passengers to fall over each other.

Toronto EMS said 11 passengers were taken to hospital complaining of neck and back pain. Nine are being treated for minor injuries.

The driver charged in the Bay incident is a three-year TTC employee who works out of the Mount Dennis bus division, according to Toronto Star sources.

TTC CEO Andy Byford said he was awaiting the outcome of the police investigation.

“We’re trying to get to the bottom of what happened. It’s pretty unusual for that to happen and our thoughts are with the people who got injured,” he said.

It’s likely some riders were standing on the southbound 6 Bay bus at that busy time of day.

“Accidents do occur. Sometimes TTC are found to be at fault. More often than not it’s not TTC at fault,” said Byford.

Last year a TTC driver was charged with criminal negligence causing death and possession of cannabis after a woman was killed when a bus on Lawrence Ave. E. collided with a tractor-trailer carrying a crane.

With files from Alexandra Bosanac