A 53-year-old man is charged with impaired driving causing death and other offences in a crash that killed a 17-month-old girl and critically injured her mother Saturday night.
The toddler died and her parents were hospitalized after a cube van struck the family’s car on Highway 7/8 in Kitchener.
Ontario Provincial Police said the family’s Volkswagen Jetta broke down in a live lane on the highway and was rear-ended as officers responded to a call about the disabled car.
After the crash, the cube van’s driver, who was not injured, was arrested at the scene, and the child was airlifted to a trauma centre in Hamilton, where she died of her injuries.
Her 36-year-old mother was taken to Hamilton General Hospital by land ambulance, and she remained in critical condition Sunday, police said.
The child’s 38-year-old father was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital.
In addition to impaired driving causing death, Kitchener resident Hugh John Brake is charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, possession of marijuana, obstruction of justice and four other offences.
Brake was held in custody after his arrest.
Despite the arrest, police continue to investigate the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at 519-654-0150.
@ChrisKitching is on Twitter. For instant breaking news, follow @CP24 on Twitter.
