The driver, identified as 25-year-old Alek Minassian by Toronto police, has been arrested and taken into custody with a further 16 people sent to hospital with injuries.
Police have not yet released a cause or possible motive, however, witnesses have said Minassian seemed to be acting deliberately while driving for roughly two kilometres, ABC reports.
"He just went on the sidewalk," witness Ali Shaker told Canadian broadcaster CP24 (per The Guardian).
"He just started hitting everybody, man. He hit every single person on the sidewalk. Anybody in his way he would hit," another witness said.
"It was just clear as day, just an ordinary day, and I saw a guy get hit by a van."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement saying authorities are monitoring the situation closely.
"Our thoughts are with all those affected by the terrible incident at Yonge and Finch in Toronto," he wrote on Twitter. "Thank you to the first responders working at the scene – we're monitoring the situation closely."
This article originally appeared on marie claire.
