TORONTO — An early-morning crash has torn one family apart, Toronto police said Sunday as they announced three children had died in a collision allegedly caused by an impaired teen driver.
Police revealed details at a news conference hours after the crash, which took place shortly after midnight at the eastbound offramp at Renforth Drive and Highway 401.
Acting Insp. Baheer Sarbanandan said a 19-year-old driving a Dodge Caravan eastbound on the highway was allegedly speeding while exiting at Renforth Drive. The driver allegedly lost control, went over a raised median and collided with a Chrysler Pacifica minivan that was facing northbound while stopped at a red light.
Inside the minivan were a mother, her four children and a male acquaintance of the family.
Sarbanandan said two of the children — a 15-year-old and 13-year-old — were pronounced dead at the scene.
A 6-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was declared dead some time later.
The 40-year-old man behind the wheel, a 35-year-old woman and a 10-year-old child are currently in hospital and are in stable condition. Their names were not immediately released.
Police say 19-year-old Ethan Lehouillier of Georgetown, Ont., was arrested at the scene and is facing 12 charges, including three counts of impaired driving causing death and three counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm.
"We educate the public of the dangers of drinking and driving and this is a result: a family is torn apart," said Sarbanandan.
He added one person's decision to drive impaired wound up being "a fatal decision."
Police are appealing to witnesses who saw the Dodge Caravan traveling eastbound on the 401 to come forward with information. They are also looking for dashcam footage, said Sarbanandan.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 18, 2025.
Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press
