Stacey Electric worker killed by TTC bus

TTC Bus Work-Zone Fatality at Bathurst Street and Dupont Avenue, where a southbound TTC bus struck a spotter and maintenance bucket under a bridge. Toronto police probe the collision; crisis counseling and charges pending.

A 42-year-old construction worker was killed after he was struck by a Toronto Transit Commission bus.

Two Stacey Electric workers were doing maintenance work on the underpass of a bridge at Bathurst Street and Dupont Avenue, echoing the dangers highlighted in the Bay Street electrocution case reported locally, around 8 p.m. on December 23 when the bus changed lanes and struck the spotter, who was watching for traffic and standing on the roadway.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The bus, which had been southbound, also hit a maintenance bucket that was overhanging into the passing lane, highlighting hydro wire risks for roadside crews today.

Bus passengers were not injured, and Bathurst Street at Dupont has reopened, following closures reminiscent of a Good Samaritan killed by a utility pole incident elsewhere.

There is no word yet on whether charges will be laid. The driver of the bus, a 50-year-old woman, is expected to receive crisis counseling, as investigations into other tragedies such as the men electrocuted fixing a tire continue across the region.

Toronto police Insp. Reuben Stroble said police are trying to piece together what went wrong.

"We're trying to figure that part out, as to why the maintenance workers were at the scene doing work at that particular location at this particular time," he said. "So we have investigators right now just speaking with Stacey Electric and they're co-operating with us, and also the TTC are also co-operating."

The accident is the fourth involving a TTC vehicle in a week, and separate from a recent substation death reported by police, which was not workplace-related.

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