Driver killed after vehicle hits pole, catches fire early Friday: Toronto police

One person is dead after their vehicle collided with a pole and caught fire in Scarborough early Friday, Toronto police say. 

Toronto police say they responded to a single-vehicle collision near Eglinton Avenue East and Brimley Road at around 12:25 a.m. 

The driver of a black BMW was travelling westbound on Eglinton Avenue East at a "high rate of speed" when it ran through a red light at Danforth Road, police said in a news release. 

The driver continued travelling westbound on Eglinton Avenue East and ran through another red light at Brimley Road, clipping another vehicle that was stopped at the intersection. Shortly after, the driver veered off the roadway and collided with a hydro pole, police said. 

The BMW caught fire and was "consumed by flames" with the driver, the lone occupant, trapped inside, police said.

It was still on fire when emergency crews arrived, a spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service said. 

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. They have not been identified yet and the cause of the collision is still under investigation, the spokesperson said. 

'It was unbelievable', witness says 

Alex Leatham said he was in the area waiting to pick up a food order when he heard the crash happen and saw a large fire break out. He said the flames were so intense it was difficult to see the vehicle that was involved in the collision. 

"The fire, the blaze, it was unbelievable," he said. 

"It was way up in the sky." 

He said several people ran toward the crash site, but police told them to move back because of the smoke. 

The intersection remains closed Friday morning as police carry out their investigation.