Six people remained in hospital Sunday after a rural Ontario crash that took the lives of five children on Friday, according to police.
Investigators reported that an infant, the children’s parents, and two older adults believed to be the children’s grandparents were among those injured when a van carrying 10 people collided with an SUV.
Ontario Provincial Police stated that the four girls and one boy who lost their lives were part of a family from Elmira, aged 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 years old. The driver of the SUV, who was alone in the vehicle, suffered critical injuries.
A family member shared on Sunday that they couldn’t provide further details as they focused on arranging funerals and caring for those still hospitalized. An unedited photo from the family shows the five children who tragically died in this accident. A Go Fund Me campaign set up by Nancy Doerksen mentions that these five kids were “deeply loved” by their large family.
“The heartbreak and grief are beyond words, and our family is trying to navigate an unimaginable reality while supporting one another through this painful time,” she wrote.
Sandy Shantz, mayor of Woolwich Township where Elmira is located, expressed her shock when a local councillor sent her news about the tragic incident.
“It’s hard when there’s any kind of accident where there’s death involved,” she said in an interview on Sunday. “But when you hear about five children and a whole family, it’s especially devastating.”
“Your heart goes out to the family, to the friends and the first responders who were on the scene.”
She mentioned that most information she has received comes from media sources but expects community members will have opportunities to grieve together once more details come out.
Shantz urged individuals driving through rural Ontario to exercise caution.
“Here in the rural community, we have horses and buggies; we have farming equipment; we have cyclists; we have pedestrians,” Shantz explained.
“It’s just a reminder that roadways are a great thing – they help us get places – but they need to be treated carefully as well.”
The provincial police force is also gearing up for a new safety initiative aimed at preventing accidents on rural roads.
This program was planned well before the fatal crash in Mapleton Township occurred; however, its timing is described as a “tragic coincidence,” according to OPP media relations officer Derek Rogers in an emailed statement.
Source link The OPP’s “Stop, Look, Live” awareness campaign will run through next week with hopes of reducing collisions throughout West Region – some incidents resulting in multiple fatalities – Rogers added. Between 2021 and 2025 nearly 5,000 motor vehicle crashes were recorded; around a quarter of these involved intersections according to OPP data. The police stated they cannot comment yet on specific details regarding this collision such as seatbelt use or other factors; it may take days or weeks before more information becomes available. “This is an unimaginable loss,” OPP Superintendent Dwight Thub told reporters during a press conference at police headquarters in Fergus. Thub extended gratitude towards “good Samaritans” who assisted first responders at the crash site. Gregg Davidson, mayor of Mapleton Township where this tragedy happened said support systems are available for volunteer firefighters and others who witnessed what happened after the collision. “Our community is strong and our community is resilient,” Davidson remarked. “We’ll respond with kindness and love like we always do.” The OPP continues its investigation into fully understanding what led up to this crash.
Source link The OPP’s “Stop, Look, Live” awareness campaign will run through next week with hopes of reducing collisions throughout West Region – some incidents resulting in multiple fatalities – Rogers added. Between 2021 and 2025 nearly 5,000 motor vehicle crashes were recorded; around a quarter of these involved intersections according to OPP data. The police stated they cannot comment yet on specific details regarding this collision such as seatbelt use or other factors; it may take days or weeks before more information becomes available. “This is an unimaginable loss,” OPP Superintendent Dwight Thub told reporters during a press conference at police headquarters in Fergus. Thub extended gratitude towards “good Samaritans” who assisted first responders at the crash site. Gregg Davidson, mayor of Mapleton Township where this tragedy happened said support systems are available for volunteer firefighters and others who witnessed what happened after the collision. “Our community is strong and our community is resilient,” Davidson remarked. “We’ll respond with kindness and love like we always do.” The OPP continues its investigation into fully understanding what led up to this crash.
