Residents petition for a traffic light at North York intersection after girl, 8, was seriously injured
A petition with nearly 500 signatures is asking the City of Toronto to install a traffic signal at Willowdale and Elmwood avenues, where five collisions have been reported since 2021.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on cp24.com.
Residents near Willowdale and Elmwood avenues in North York are asking the City of Toronto to install a traffic signal at the intersection after five collisions there since January 2021, including one on October 26 that left an 8-year-old girl with life-threatening injuries.
CP24 reported the story on November 8, citing Toronto Police figures showing two collisions in 2026, two in 2025 and one in 2023 at the intersection. The October 26 crash also injured a woman in her 70s, who was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, CP24 said.
Resident Jasmine Yu launched a petition asking the City to immediately add a traffic signal and other safety measures at the site. The petition had gathered nearly 500 signatures by late Friday afternoon, CP24 reported. Yu told CP24 the intersection sits at the top of a hill where drivers do not see the crosswalk until they are close, giving them little time to stop. The intersection currently has a pedestrian crosswalk with flashing yellow lights, which Yu said is not enough to protect people crossing.
City investigating
Mike Barnet, Director of Enforcement and Street Management for the City of Toronto, confirmed to CP24 that City staff have opened an investigation at the intersection and have requested traffic counts. Those counts will be used to assess whether a signal meets the criteria of the City's Traffic Control Signal Policy. If staff recommend a signal, CP24 reported, City Council would need to approve it before one could be installed.
Lily Cheng is the councillor for Ward 18, Willowdale, the area that includes the intersection.
The City's investigation is ongoing, and no timeline for a decision has been announced. Residents can contact Councillor Cheng's ward office or the City's transportation services division to follow the review or share their concerns about the intersection.
Questions this story answers
What happened at Willowdale and Elmwood avenues in North York?
An 8-year-old girl was struck by a driver on October 26, 2026, and was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. A woman in her 70s was also injured in the same crash with non-life-threatening injuries. Toronto Police reported five collisions at the intersection since January 1, 2021, according to CP24.
What is the petition asking for?
Resident Jasmine Yu launched a petition asking the City to immediately install a traffic signal at Willowdale and Elmwood avenues and to add other safety measures. The petition had nearly 500 signatures by November 8, 2026, CP24 reported.
What is the City of Toronto doing about the intersection?
Mike Barnet, Director of Enforcement and Street Management for the City of Toronto, told CP24 that staff opened an investigation and requested traffic counts to assess whether a traffic signal is warranted under the City's Traffic Control Signal Policy. City Council would need to approve a new signal if one is recommended.
Who is the councillor for this area?
Lily Cheng is the councillor for Ward 18, Willowdale, which covers the neighbourhood around the Willowdale and Elmwood avenues intersection. Residents can contact her ward office to raise safety concerns or ask for updates on the City's investigation into the intersection.
How many collisions have been reported at the intersection?
Toronto Police reported five collisions at Willowdale and Elmwood avenues since January 1, 2021: one in 2021, one in 2023, two in 2025, and two in 2026, including the October 26 crash, according to CP24.
What safety measure is currently at the intersection?
The intersection has a pedestrian crosswalk with flashing yellow lights. Resident Jasmine Yu told CP24 that the intersection is at the top of a hill and drivers do not see the crosswalk until they are close, leaving little time to stop. Yu argues the flashing yellow lights are not sufficient to protect pedestrians.
Does council need to approve a new traffic signal?
Yes. Mike Barnet, Director of Enforcement and Street Management for the City, told CP24 that if City staff assess the intersection and recommend a traffic signal under the Traffic Control Signal Policy, City Council would need to give approval before one could be installed.
When did the October 26 collision happen and what were the injuries?
On October 26, 2026, an 8-year-old girl was struck by a driver at the Willowdale and Elmwood avenues intersection and taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. A woman in her 70s was injured in the same crash with non-life-threatening injuries, CP24 reported.
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