'We want to honour our children': Parents of 2 children killed in Vaughan crash speak out after sentencing

Toronto.Citynews.ca
April 5, 2022
Patricia D’Cunha

The parents of two children who were killed when a speeding teen driver struck them on their driveway in Vaughan last year expressed their grief and outrage over the sentence that was handed down.

A judge sentenced the 17-year-old boy to a year in an open custody youth facility, followed by six months under community supervision, a six-year driving ban and one-year probation.

A 10-year-old girl and her four-year-old brother were struck on their driveway on May 16, 2021, after the teen veered off the road on Athabasca Drive, just off Dufferin Street north of Teston Road. The two children died in hospital.

According to an agreed statement of facts, the teen from Richmond Hill, who was 16 years old at the time of the crash, was travelling at more than 100 km/h.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of Dangerous Driving Causing Death and one count of Dangerous Driving Causing Bodily Harm on Dec. 1, 2021. He was sentenced in a Newmarket court on Monday.

“Our beautiful almost 11-year-old daughter Anaya, so full of passion, courage, love and determination, died from her injuries. Our little, loving, spunky, full of playfulness, four-year-old Jax also lost his life,” the distraught children’s mother, Binta Patel, said outside the courthouse after the sentencing.

“The five of us were in our comfort zone, in the front yard of our home ... and unexpecting of the horror that was to unfold in front of our eyes. We heard a speeding car and immediately saw it flying into our two children and neighbour. Just a few seconds transformed this day, shattered our family, and changed our entire existence,” she said.

“We want to honour our children, Anaya’s and Jax’s lives by bringing awareness and attention to issues around dangerous and reckless driving. ... It’s important to share our story in the hopes to create a culture of safer driving and to ultimately save lives.”

The children’s father, Ketan Chaudhari, questioned how a teen could get a driver’s licence without fully understanding the responsibilities that come with it.

“If a 17-year-old is too immature to understand the consequences of his behaviours and actions, and is then protected under our judicial system, then why do we give the privilege and responsibility to drive a vehicle that can cause serious destruction,” he said.

Chaudhari also spoke directly to young people who get behind the wheel to be aware of how their actions can impact others.

“We would like to send a message to all young drivers out there. Cars are not toys. Cars can be deadly weapons ... my children lost their lives because of a few moments of selfish stupidity,” he said.

In a statement from Education Minister Stephen Lecce, the family’s local MPP, he said he will continue to work with the children’s parents, Binta and Ketan, and the rest of the community to help save lives.

“The government just unveiled a new campaign and partnership with MADD to counter reckless and impaired driving targeting youth. We are also working to strengthen learning and targeted advertising to students focused on promoting responsible driving, personal responsibility, and the long-lasting impact of their decisions. We are also working to enhance mandatory learning that addresses reckless driving within Ontario’s driver education program,” Lecce said.

“There is much more to do. And we will do it in partnership with the family and community.”

Police had said a neighbour was helping the children with their bike chains when all three were struck by the vehicle. The man’s injuries were not life-threatening.

The teen driver was arrested at the scene. He was out on bail and living under house arrest.

Watch the full segment here: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/04/04/vaughan-fatal-crash-sentencing/