The driver accused of crashing an SUV through the window of a Richmond Hill daycare, leaving a toddler dead and six other children injured, was granted bail Thursday as a memorial grew outside the child care centre following the horrific crash.聽
Vinay Kumar Gupta, 70, was arrested聽at the scene Wednesday afternoon and later charged with one count of dangerous operation causing death and two counts of dangerous operation causing bodily harm.
Officers responded to the collision around 3 p.m. at First Roots Early Education Academy, near , where they found Hyundai Ioniq 9 electric SUV that had broken through a window and cut clean through one of the daycare rooms before breaking through the drywall into the next room.
The boy, one-and-a-half years old, was pronounced dead in hospital after the 3 p.m. crash Wednesday. Another child was in serious condition while
The boy, one-and-a-half years old, was pronounced dead in hospital after the 3 p.m. crash Wednesday. Another child was in serious condition while
Following the crash, a one-and-a-half-years-old boy was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Nine others were taken to hospital for medical attention, including a child in serious condition and five other children and three staff members who were treated for injuries that weren’t life-threatening.
People left stuffed animals, flowers and notes of condolences outside First Roots Early Education Academy on Thursday morning after a horrific crash that left a toddler dead.聽
Abby O’Brien/海角社区官网StarGupta appeared in court via video from York Regional Police headquarters. He was wearing handcuffs, a blue turtleneck and grey windbreaker and required a Hindi interpreter. He did not appear to have physical injuries and sat quietly in the room during the proceedings.
The Crown consented to his release on $25,000 bail, on the conditions that he lives with his surety and is not allowed to drive or have keys to a motor vehicle. He is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 16th.
Community members and child care providers from other daycares stopped by the property Thursday morning, leaving flowers, stuffed animals and handwritten cards as part of a makeshift memorial for the young boy.
A car has crashed through a window off a small parking lot of the First Roots Early Education Academy at Yonge street and Nottingham Dr. in Richmond Hill Wednesday afternoon.聽
Richard Lautens/海角社区官网StarSanaz Ramzani, who lives just down the street from the centre, paid her respects at the memorial Thursday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just so awful,鈥 an emotional Ramzani told the Star. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe it, for an accident like this to happen with so many children inside 鈥 and the boy, he was just a baby.鈥
The walls of the daycare were still lined with crayon-coloured cartoons and colourful posters teaching children the months of the year.聽
Firefighters pull the SUV from聽First Roots Early Education Academy on Sept. 10, 2025. Earlier, the vehicle drove through the window of the Richmond Hill daycare, leaving one toddler dead and six other children injured.
Richard Lautens/海角社区官网StarA large hole in the centre鈥檚 west wall, where the vehicle entered, had been boarded up. On the opposite side of the building, a storage shed blocked the view another mangled wall. Black curtains covered many of the daycare鈥檚 windows.
Inside, children鈥檚 backpacks, toys, art supplies, and broken chairs are strewn amongst the debris, which spans three rooms of the childcare centre. Above the wreckage, art projects and educational posters decorated the remaining walls. Many of the daycare鈥檚 children had left their belongings in baskets, tucked into a row of cubbies, and their coats hung side-by-side on hooks.
Marymar Sales, an employee at a nearby daycare centre, said her workplace was sent into a panic when they found out about the crash.
鈥淲e just didn鈥檛 know what was happening,鈥 Sales said. 鈥淲hen we learned a child was killed, we just couldn鈥檛 handle it. They鈥檙e just babies.鈥
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 sleep last night,鈥 she continued. 鈥淪o this morning, we decided to come down here with flowers (and) toys to give the kids.鈥
People left stuffed animals, flowers and notes of condolences outside First Roots Early Education Academy on Thursday morning after a horrific crash that left a toddler dead.
Abby O’Brien/海角社区官网Star鈥淗eartbroken and deeply saddened by the tragic incident at our center,鈥 a statement on the daycare鈥檚 Instagram read Wednesday night. 鈥淥ur heartfelt condolences go out to the family during this incredibly difficult time.鈥
York police Const. Kevin Nebrija told reporters Wednesday that early witness information had led police to believe 鈥渢his was not a deliberate act.鈥
鈥淚nitial information suggests the vehicle was in the parking lot at the time, and for reasons unknown, drove through the front of the window,鈥 he added. 鈥淎s you can imagine, this was a very chaotic scene.鈥
There were 96 children in the daycare when the crash occurred, police said.
According to the , programs start for child as young as three-months-old and go up to six-years-old.
With files from Raju Mudhar
To join the conversation set a first and last name in your user profile.
Sign in or register for free to join the Conversation