A lethal multi-vehicle crash that concerned a wrong-way driver on Freeway 401 in Whitby began when police had been in pursuit of a minimum of one suspect who robbed an LCBO, the province’s police watchdog stated.
The Particular Investigations Unit (SIU) confirmed that Durham Area Police Service (DRPS) had been referred to as to a theft at an LCBO in Clarington simply after 8 p.m. on Monday. When police arrived, the suspect fled in a cargo van, and a pursuit was initiated.
They are saying the suspect driver then proceeded onto Freeway 401, driving in the wrong way, which resulted in a multi-vehicle crash with fatalities that concerned a minimum of six automobiles.
The SIU confirmed that 4 individuals, together with a child, had been killed. The occupant of the cargo van died on the scene, whereas three others — a grandmother, grandfather and their grandchild — died within the different car. One other particular person from the collision was taken to a neighborhood hospital with severe accidents.
It’s unknown if there have been different individuals within the suspect cargo van or if others had been concerned within the theft.
The SIU was referred to as to research the incident as Durham police had been concerned. It was an off-duty officer who was on the LCBO and notified the police of the alleged crime.
Witnesses describe scene forward of deadly crash
A number of visitors spotters reported seeing a white van travelling at a excessive fee of velocity and driving the mistaken method within the eastbound lanes of Freeway 401 earlier than it crashed.
“I was driving in the left lane, and I was making my way over to the right lane, and all of a sudden, there was some kind of white van in front of me, facing me, going westbound in the east lane,” one woman advised 680 Information Radio Toronto.
Video despatched to CityNews captured the car driving moments earlier than the crash.
The crash closed the freeway between Lake Ridge Highway/County Highway 23 and Brock Road within the eastbound lanes for over 12 hours however reopened simply after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The westbound lanes from Brock Road to Freeway 412 additionally reopened simply earlier than 7 a.m.
Premier Doug Ford was requested concerning the crash on Tuesday.
“It’s heart-wrenching, and you see everyone from a grandfather to a little baby killed because someone decides to rob a liquor store and go on the other side of the highway,” Ford commented at a press convention in Caledon.
“It’s a tragedy. We’re going to do everything we can to equip our police, and one of the reasons we’re getting helicopters for police agencies around Ontario.”
