Police identify man behind wheel of Yonge and Eglinton attempted murder

TORONTO, Ont. – Some witnesses have described it as being like a scene from a movie, with a car jumping the curb and driving at a pedestrian on the sidewalk.

But it happened in real life near Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue Friday, and police have now identified the man behind the wheel.

Steven Paul Brunswick, 47, is wanted for several charges including attempted murder and dangerous driving.

He is described as white, 6’1″ tall with a heavy build and grey-black hair.

The 47-year-old man is accused of stealing a car and purposely driving toward an on-duty police officer, at which point he struck a 55-year-old woman and two other pedestrians.

Officers responded to a call at about 1:30 p.m. after the suspect allegedly stole several items at a Leaside Winners store before fleeing in a stolen black Mercedes-Benz vehicle, police say. Police began to pursue the vehicle after the driver failed to remain

The vehicle travelled westbound on Eglinton Avenue, approaching Yonge Street when it veered onto a sidewalk and struck the three pedestrians.

The woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Scott Metcalfe, news director of 680News, was at the site of the incident.

“A number of people had to jump out of the way and this one woman wasn’t able to and was knocked down,” he said.

Another eyewitness told 680News that he heard pedestrians scream and scramble to clear the way.

“I looked up and I saw a Mercedes-Benz on the sidewalk,” he said. “I just tried to jump to save my own life.”

“It looked like a scene out of Hollywood,” eyewitness Stephen Perry told CityNews Channel.

“The car continued to race down, jumps up the sidewalk, with the police pulling their guns out.”

The victim was conscious and breathing when emergency crews arrived.

Eyewitness Dhira told 680News that the woman “stepped out from behind the bus stop” when she was struck.

“I ran to her and she was OK and I said ‘it’s OK, it’s OK,'” she said.

After striking the woman, the vehicle turned down Burnaby Boulevard, in the Eglinton Avenue and Avenue Road area and was abandoned with two flat tires, Stibbe said.

Police say the occupants were last spotted fleeing northbound on foot.

A section of Yonge Street was shut down for the police investigation.

A hydro crew worked to cap off a small leak to a gas line that was severed during the incident.

Anyone with information is being asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.