A 70-year-old man has admitted guilt to dangerous driving charges after his SUV crashed into a daycare center north of Toronto last year, resulting in the death of a toddler and injuries to several other children and staff members.
Vinay Kumar Gupta pleaded guilty in a Newmarket, Ont., court on Monday morning to one count of dangerous operation causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
Gupta was taken into custody at the scene in Richmond Hill, Ont., on Sept. 10, 2025, and later released on bail.
An agreed statement of facts presented in court indicated that Gupta arrived at the First Roots Early Education Academy parking lot with his wife in a grey SUV just before 3 p. m. that day to pick up his two grandchildren.
While trying to park, his vehicle unexpectedly moved up the raised concrete sidewalk and through an exterior window, crashing into the building and hitting multiple children and daycare staff across three classrooms before finally stopping, according to the statement.
“The vehicle travelled approximately 18.7 metres within five seconds,” court heard.
“It was calculated to be travelling at approximately 15 kilometres per hour through the first classroom, 14 kilometres per hour through the second classroom, and 11 kilometres per hour through the third classroom.”
The car struck eight children and one staff member in the first room, another eight children in the second room, then hit eight more children and two staff members in the last room, as detailed in court.
The boy who died was just one-and-a-half years old. Another child sustained life-changing injuries while another suffered broken bones and head injuries. Three adult staff members at the daycare were also injured.
