Toronto police believe a driver who struck and injured four people on a pedestrian walkway on Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) campus Tuesday afternoon was intentionally targeting one person.
Emergency crews were called to the downtown campus’ Nelson Mandela Walk in the Yonge Street and Gerrard Street East area at around 1:54 p.m. after reports of multiple pedestrians struck.
Two people were transported to a local hospital — one with serious, non-life-threatening injuries, and the other with minor injuries. Two others were assessed on scene and refused transport to hospital, police say.
None of the injured were students or staff at the university, Duty Inspector Todd Jocko said in an update from the scene at around 5:20 p.m.
Jocko said investigators believe the driver was intentionally trying to strike one specific person, but that person was not among the two that were hospitalized. Jocko described the most seriously injured as “bystanders” and said he’s awaiting updates on their condition.
“At this time it appears that it may have been an intentional targeting of a specific individual on the walkway,” he said, calling it an isolated incident.
No motive has been determined, but Jocko confirmed that the parties “are known to each other.”
“I can’t speak to the nature of their relationship,” he added.
Jocko said no suspect description is currently available and police don’t know if the vehicle used in the attack, a dark green sedan with the licence plate DEDZ 565, was stolen.
The vehicle was last seen fleeing eastbound on Gould Street towards Church Street with a cracked windshield.
The scene on a usually quiet pedestrian-only walkway startled witnesses.
“I was just coming out of the campus building and going to another one and I just saw these two women running at me and telling me to run,” a student named Noor told CityNews.
She then said she saw a vehicle speeding away before crashing into a pole.
“I’m shocked, it’s so scary that this can happen … No one expects this to happen on campus.”
COLLISION: (UPDATE)
Gerrard St E & Yonge St @TPS51Div
-pedestrians were on Nelson Mandela Walk at TMU
-4 people with reported injuries
-2 people transported to hospital by @TorontoMedics
-updates to follow#GO781472
^sm— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) April 15, 2025
In an alert on its website, TMU asked people to avoid the area due to an “active investigation.”
“For your safety, please avoid Nelson Mandela Walk between Gerrard Street E and Gould Street immediately,” the alert states.
The university says there is no impact on classes, labs, or exams at this time, and that employees should continue work as usual.
“Further updates will be provided as they become available. An all-clear notification will be sent once the issue has been resolved.”
