

Web staff, cp24.com





The bus driver involved in a fatal crash earlier this week has been suspended from his duties pending a police investigation, according to the Toronto Transit Commission.

The TTC made the announcement shortly after a news conference where police said they had found a small amount of marijuana on the driver's belongings.

The 52-year-old driver, who has not been identified, has not been charged in connection with this case. TTC Spokesperson Mike DeToma said the driver was suspended without pay.

Police say they will speak to a Crown attorney to decide if or what charges should be laid.

"We'll be consulting with the Crown attorney's office next Wednesday with regards to the collision sequence and the drugs," Const. Carl Anderson said at a news conference late Thursday afternoon.

Anderson told reporters that officers found a suspicious substance on the bus during the course of their investigation and have sent it to the lab for testing.

"At this point there is nothing to indicate he was under the influence of an intoxicant," Anderson said of the driver. "He was not given a drug test at the time because we didn't have any grounds."

Officials with the TTC say they've completed their own investigation and found no evidence of impairment.

"The TTC has a fitness for duty policy and program in its workplace," says a TTC news release. "That policy was invoked following the crash, as it is whenever a serious workplace accident or collision occurs."

The union that represents TTC drivers put out a news release refusing comment.

"It has always been our policy to not comment on matters involving our members that are under police investigation," Bob Kinnear, president of Local 113 of the Amalgamated Transit Union said.

Jadranka Petrova, 43, was killed when a TTC bus rear-ended a flatbed truck carrying a crane on Lawrence Avenue Tuesday afternoon.

Thirteen other passengers were also injured in the accident.

Investigation continues

Police are still looking to speak with witnesses including a transport truck driver that was in the immediate vicinity at the time of the accident.

The cause of the accident has not been determined.

"It looks like the bus was trying to pass the slower moving truck," Anderson said. "At this point we haven't made a speed determination."