gardiner expressway fire

Huge fire shuts down Toronto's Gardiner Expressway after speeding luxury cars crash

A fiery incident on the Gardiner Expressway brought traffic to a sudden halt on Thursday night after a collision involving at least four vehicles that left four people injured and many more frustrated.

Photos and videos began to flood social media just before 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evening, showing flames engulfing the eastbound lanes of the Gardiner near Fort York Boulevard.

Initial reports by police placed the blame on street racing, though Traffic Services explained to media that street racing was likely not a factor, though the cars were indeed believed to be speeding at the time of the crash.

The vehicles involved in the crash were reportedly both luxury Mercedes-Benz models with Quebec licence plates.

Two of the motorists involved in the crash reportedly fled on foot. As of Friday morning, one has been apprehended, and police are still searching for a second.

Police state that four of the vehicle occupants were transported to hospital with minor injuries, and announced that roads would begin to reopen shortly after 9 p.m.

Lead photo by

@401_da_sarpanch


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

People spotting Toronto's fancy Roombas for cutting grass in parks are enthralled

Ontario just got hit with an earthquake and officials blame this mine

TTC workers are gearing up to go on strike and here's what you need to know

Here are the highest and lowest paying gig jobs at the City of Toronto right now

Yonge-Dundas Square renaming to Sankofa Square is about to become more official

A 7-kilometre stretch of the TTC subway will be closed for this entire weekend

Years of construction on major Toronto street set to extend even longer with new project

Toronto just got a beautiful new streetscape but oops it's already being torn up