When 15-year-old Frank Damian parted ways with his best friend ahead of the long weekend, he never imagined it would be the last time he鈥檇 hear his voice.
Early Sunday morning, Damian鈥檚 friend of nearly a decade was one of three children killed by an alleged drunk driver in a collision near Renforth Drive and Highway 401 in Etobicoke.
鈥淚 still can鈥檛 believe it,鈥 Damian told the Star from the grounds of an East York Catholic school on Tuesday afternoon. 鈥淚 won’t be able to text him or talk to him.鈥
Behind Damian, students, parents and teachers laid flowers and stuffed animals at a growing memorial near the school’s entryway to honour the lives of the three former students, aged 15, 13 and six.聽The 15-year-old boy graduated from the school last year.
The identities of the three children and their family are now covered under a court-ordered publication ban.
鈥淭he school will never be the same without you,鈥 reads one of the handwritten messages placed on the memorial. 鈥淲e miss you so much,鈥 says another. 鈥淔ly high, my loves,鈥 reads a note taped to the brick wall.聽
Rows of stuffed animals were left at an East York school on Tuesday in memory of three children killed early Sunday by an allegedly impaired driver.
Abby O’Brien/海角社区官网StarThe crash happened just after midnight on Sunday. A 19-year-old allegedly drunk driver lost control of a Dodge Caravan while exiting the off-ramp of Highway 401 near Renforth Drive. The driver of the Caravan drove over a raised median, police said, before hitting a Chrysler Pacifica carrying six occupants that was stopped at a red light.
Emergency responders at the scene of the deadly crash early on Sunday that claimed the lives of two brothers, ages 13 and 15, and their six-year-old sister. The children鈥檚 mother, their 10-year-old brother and another adult were seriously injured.
R.J. Johnston/海角社区官网Star file photoTwo boys, ages 13 and 15, were pronounced dead at the scene. A six-year-old girl was rushed to hospital but later died. Three others 鈥 including the children鈥檚 mother, her 10-year-old son and another adult 鈥 were seriously injured.
A mother and four children were stopped at a red light when their vehicle was hit, police said.
Ethan Lehouillier of Georgetown, Ont., was arrested at the scene of the crash. He is facing 12 charges, including three counts of impaired driving causing death.
Ethan Lehouillier, 19, of Georgetown, Ont. appeared briefly in a 海角社区官网courtroom on Tuesday. He faces 12 charges, including three counts of impaired operation of a vehicle causing death, in the fatal crash that killed two young brothers and their sister at Highway 401 and Renforth Drive just after midnight on Sunday.聽The children’s mother, another brother and a family friend were also injured in the crash.
Pam Davies for the 海角社区官网StarLehouillier, 19, made a brief court appearance in 海角社区官网on Tuesday morning. Wearing a jail-issued jumpsuit, he spoke only to spell out his name. An agent for the accused鈥檚 lawyer, Christopher Avery, said a bail hearing has not yet been requested and that his team is still waiting for Crown prosecutors to share evidence gathered by investigators.
Tanya Hansen Pratt, national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada, a non-profit organization aimed at combating drunk driving, said she was devastated when she heard the news of the crash. Hansen Pratt understands the 鈥減ainful road鈥 ahead for the family 鈥 her mother was killed by a 19-year-old impaired driver in 1999.
To avoid any potential harm when consuming alcohol or drugs, Hansen Pratt says the best strategy is to plan ahead.
鈥淭hat’s the quickest and easiest thing to do,鈥 she said. 鈥淭here are so many options available these days.鈥
People who drive under the influence often don鈥檛 think about the consequences until it鈥檚 too late. Young men are especially at risk, she says, as they tend to be more impulsive 鈥 a trait she says becomes particularly dangerous when mixed with alcohol or drugs.
MADD Canada holds educational sessions, using actors in the same age demographic as students, in hopes of connecting with the high-risk demographic.
Hansen Pratt, who has been involved with MADD throughout the last 25 years, says there is still more that governments can do to help prevent impaired driving.聽
A long-time family friend confirmed the identity of the family after getting a call from the children’s father with the shocking news.
A long-time family friend confirmed the identity of the family after getting a call from the children’s father with the shocking news.
鈥淚t’s really important to reach them in a way where they’re able to take it in,鈥 she said. 鈥淚f numbers are still high, then we know that they’re not taking in the message the way that other demographics perhaps are.鈥
For those returning to class after the long weekend, the 海角社区官网Catholic District School Board has mental health and faith-based supports in place to help students deal with the deaths of their peers. The services include access to the board’s social work and psychology teams, who will offer community referrals and on-site counselling.聽
“Out of respect for the family and our grieving school communities, our focus remains on offering support, care and prayer for all those affected by this unimaginable tragedy,” the board told the Star in a written statement.
Still, students struggled to return to class 鈥 some gathered around one of their deceased classmate’s desk, crying.聽
鈥淚 wish people could understand that the devastation caused by these crashes does not end at the scene,鈥 Hansen Pratt said. 鈥淚t goes on every single day for the rest of the lives of the people involved.鈥
Lehouillier is scheduled to appear in court again in mid-June.
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