Three seemingly unrelated but identical medical emergencies occurred at Dupont Station Tuesday morning, causing a delay for southbound passengers that lasted twenty minutes.
"We had an ill passenger on a train southbound at Dupont. And while the EMS personnel were treating that person, a lady on the same train who I understand was four months pregnant fainted. About a half an hour after that, a gentleman became ill at Dupont station as well," explained Danny Nicholson of Toronto Transit Control.
TTC officials say the unusual string of incidents is not connected.
A strange turpentine-like smell was reported near
Dupont and Spadina Road at that time, which emergency crews on scene claim had nothing to do with the faintings.
The third victim would disagree.
"Apparently he smelled something that may have been some turpentine," Nicholson added.
Officials suspect he overheated.
Toronto Police rushed to the scene when the first victim pulled the passenger assistance alarm. Despite the confusion, the trio was taken to Toronto General Hospital for treatment for their unrelated ailments.
As authorities try to pinpoint the source of the strange fumes, Toronto Fire reported air testing has concluded carbon monoxide is not suspected.
In 2007, about 4,000 people became sick or were injured on the TTC. That amounts to about 50 hours of delays on subway cars alone.
For some riders, those back-ups happen all too often.
"You're late for work, you're late for, you know, anything that you have to go to," complained one rider.
"And it seems to be very frequent."
For another man, it's the length of the delay that he finds worrisome.
"One time I was stuck on there for about 40 minutes. It was kind of an intense experience," he described.
pilot projectHowever, that doesn't mean the plan isn't working, according to the head of emergency services.
"We were able to provide very quick and timely service to the patrons and also keep the system moving," outlined Mike Neill, Deputy Chief of Toronto EMS.
The project will continue until January 2009.