Pedestrian struck and killed by cement truck near Yonge and Eglinton

A 54-year-old woman was struck and killed by a cement truck while trying to cross the street in the Yonge and Eglinton area Tuesday morning, police say.

Emergency crews were called about the incident at 10 a.m.

Investigators say it happened near the intersection of Yonge Street and Erskine Avenue.

Sgt. Brett Moore told reporters at the scene that the woman was hit while trying to cross Yonge Street as the cement truck was turning. Her body was also dragged by the truck, Moore said.

“We know the local community is concerned and upset,” he said.

The driver of the truck was taken to hospital to be examined for shock “amongst other things,” Moore said.

Police are asking people to avoid the area. Investigators are also looking for any security camera or dash cam footage of the crash.

Nhu Yorke told CBC News she was sitting in a nearby Starbucks when she heard the commotion of the crash.

“I heard someone yelling ‘stop, stop’ at the top of his lungs,” Yorke said, adding that she thought it was a fender bender until she saw the look on that man’s face.

“I looked down, and there I saw the foot of a pedestrian,” she said.

“I was just in total shock… I was so shaken up.”

Toronto police statistics show there have been at least 22 pedestrian deaths in the city so far this year.

That’s compared to at least nine driver deaths and seven motorcyclist deaths.