Ryder 'saddened' as van in Toronto collides with pedestrians
A van with a damaged front-end is shown on a sidewalk after the van mounted a sidewalk crashing into a number of pedestrians in Toronto on Monday, April 23, 2018. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
A suspect driving a Ryder rental van killed at least nine people on Monday when he collided with pedestrians on a Toronto sidewalk.
In a statement, Ryder confirmed that one of its vans was involved in the incident.
“We are saddened by this tragic event, and our deepest sympathies go out to those impacted,” the Miami-based company said. “We take the safety and security of our entire fleet very seriously, and we are cooperating fully with authorities.”
Shares of Ryder System traded about 1% higher on Monday as transportation stocks posted broad gains.
Ten people were dead and another 15 were injured in Toronto. Police said the driver is in custody, and the investigation is ongoing. In press conferences late Monday, Toronto Mayor John Tory and other officials didn’t address possible motives.
Witnesses told news outlets that the driver appeared to be in control and was driving at a high rate of speed on a sidewalk.
Truck-rental companies have implemented stricter security measures amid new threats from terrorist groups. Following an attack in New York City in November, the New York Police Department said it began communicating with truck lenders about possible terrorist activity two years prior to the incident. Companies including Penske and U-Haul said law enforcement officials have visited rental locations. Security measures include screening customers’ names against watch lists.
In the New York City attack, the operator of a pickup truck rented from a Home Depot store killed eight people and injured 12 more.