A man has died after falling from an escalator inside the RioCan Empress Walk Plaza in North York, Toronto, with investigators confirming that the incident was not caused by a mechanical failure.
According to the Toronto Police Service, emergency responders were called to the shopping complex at about 5 p.m. local time on Thursday, June 25, following reports of a serious incident involving an escalator.
When officers and paramedics arrived, they found that the man had fallen from the escalator. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the tragedy, police evacuated the shopping plaza and temporarily closed the facility while investigators examined the area. Authorities later stated that there was no evidence to suggest the man’s death resulted from criminal activity.
One witness, Lucas Hay, told local media that emergency personnel quickly secured the scene before shoppers were gradually escorted out of the building.
According to the witness, there was no panic among visitors, as security officials calmly directed people to leave the mall while police carried out their investigation.
In a statement released after the incident, RioCan, one of Canada’s largest real estate investment trusts and the owner of the plaza, expressed sympathy to the victim’s family.
The company said it was deeply saddened by the incident and extended its condolences to the deceased’s loved ones. RioCan also confirmed it is fully cooperating with investigators and referred further questions to the Toronto Police Service.
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA), which oversees safety regulations for elevators and escalators in Ontario, also investigated the incident.
TSSA spokesperson Alexandra Campbell confirmed that inspectors found no mechanical defects with the escalator, ruling out equipment failure as the cause of the fatal fall.
Although the Ontario Ministry of Labour was informed about the incident, the ministry clarified that it would not be conducting an investigation because the victim was not involved in workplace activities, placing the case outside its jurisdiction.
Police have not released the identity of the deceased, and investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fatal fall remain ongoing.
