The parents of three children who were killed in a tragic collision in Vaughan over the weekend say they have been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support they have received.
“We had no idea how many lives we had touched,” Jennifer Neville-Lake told CP24 Tuesday, standing alongside her husband, Edward Lake.
Four of the couple’s family members traveling in a van died Sunday after the vehicle was struck by a black SUV at Kirby Road and Kipling Avenue in Vaughan.
Gary Neville, 65, was killed in the crash along with three of his grandchildren; Nine-year-old Daniel Neville-Lake, his younger brother Harry, 5, and sister Milly, 2.
The children’s grandmother and great-grandmother were taken to hospital and are expected to survive.
The horrific crash sparked a wave of support for the family, as well as outrage over allegations the driver of the other vehicle was impaired.
Neville-Lake said Tuesday that the couple has received messages of support from all over the world, as well as at home.
“A group neighbours came up last night and introduced themselves. It’s been absolutely incredible,” she said.
An online page set up to raise money to help the family with funeral costs had garnered more than $160,000 by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Neville-Lake, who described the crash Monday as her ‘worst nightmare,’ said she and her husband never imagined that strangers would pitch in so much to help with the costs, but said the support has been welcome.
“I really do appreciate anything because paying for multiple funerals at once is not exactly something that is in our budget,” she said.
She said she’s been reading each message personally and is taking comfort in the support of friends and strangers alike.
“It gives us comfort to know that there are so many people who are walking alongside us,” she said.
“It’s amazing how much support there’s been. Just outstanding. It’s very touching,” Lake added.
Earlier in the day the couple attended a mass held for the three kids at Saint Joachim Separate School in Brampton, the school the two little boys attended.
The mass was attended by students and parents of the boys’ classmates.
Stunned classmates of the boys spoke outside the school prior to the mass.
“My teacher was crying and all the students were really sad who played soccer with me and Daniel,” classmate Damian Williams said.
One parent who visited the school the day after the crash said she left “with chills.”
“It was just so somber. You had children crying. The staff were very quiet. I think that just grief has struck the whole school community,” she told CP24.
She said the tragedy has left kids at the school grieving and confused, including her own son who used to play with one of the Neville-Lake boys at recess.
“There’s anger, there’s questions and a lot of grief,” she said.
A book of condolences was also set up inside the school for people to leave well-wishes and messages for the family.
Family of man charged in crash issue statement
Also Tuesday, the mother of a man charged in the deadly crash issued a statement expressing condolences on behalf of her family.
“We are all greatly saddened by yesterday’s tragedy and express our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Neville, Lake and Frias families,” Dawn Muzzo said in a statement released through a lawyer.
Police said Monday that Marco Muzzo of King Township is facing a list of 18 charges in connection with the deadly collision, including four counts of impaired driving causing death.
Muzzo is a member of a prominent GTA family estimated to be worth over $1 billion through a construction empire founded by his late grandfather of the same name.
In a brief appearance in a Newmarket courtroom Monday, the 29-year-old said nothing. He was remanded into custody and is expected to make another court appearance Friday.
In their statement Tuesday, the Muzzo family asked for privacy “during this very difficult time.”
A candlelight vigil for the victims of the crash is set to be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Padre Pio Church at 5500 Major Mackenzie Drive West in Kleinburg.
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