Vaughan family releases statement after brother and sister killed in crash

Thestar.com
May 19, 2021

The family of two Vaughan children who died after being struck by a car on Sunday has released a statement through York Regional Police.

“We are extremely traumatized by the tragic loss of our daughter and son. The past days have been extremely difficult for our family. We appreciate the prayers and thoughts of all those grieving with us,” the statement said.

A makeshift memorial with flowers and messages of support has been growing in front of the family home since Sunday with community members dropping by to pay their respects.

York Regional Police said a four-year-old boy, his 10-year-old sister and an adult male neighbour who was helping them fix their bike chain were all hit by a 16-year-old driver, on Sunday afternoon.

The teen driver had veered his car off a residential street onto the driveway.

Police were called to the scene and the children were rushed to hospital where they later died from their injuries.

A 16-year-old driver from Richmond Hill was arrested at the scene and was initially charged with dangerous driving and criminal negligence causing bodily harm. After York Regional Police announced the ten-year-old’s death late Monday, the driver’s charges were updated to two counts of dangerous driving and criminal negligence causing death and one count each of dangerous operation causing bodily harm and criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

In the statement released by police, the family is requesting privacy and asked that the names and photos of their children not be released publicly.

The release also said that a GoFundMe page had been created in regards to the incident “however the family has advised that this was not created by them and has not been discussed with them in any way.”

York Regional Police said officers would be looking for more witnesses and video of Sunday’s incident.