York Regional Police say a driver who crashed into a Richmond Hill daycare has been charged with dangerous driving causing death after a toddler was killed and several other children were injured on Wednesday afternoon.
The crash occurred at First Roots Early Education Academy located in the area of Yonge Street and Nottingham Drive, near 19th Avenue, around 3 p.m.
Officers arrived to find 10 people, including seven children and three staff members, injured after an SUV came crashing through the front of the daycare. The victims were transported to hospital and a one-and-a-half-year-old boy was subsequently pronounced dead.
In an update on Thursday, police confirmed that two children remain in critical condition and the remaining four injured children sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Three staff members were also injured in the incident.
The children injured in the collision range in age from one-and-a-half to three years old.
The driver, a 70-year-old man from Richmond Hill, has now been charged with dangerous driving causing death and dangerous operation causing bodily harm.
Investigators are still gathering evidence and say additional charges may be laid.
“I can tell you that the initial information suggests the vehicle was in the parking lot at the time and, for reasons unknown, drove through the front of the window,” Const. Kevin Nebrija said on Wednesday.
According to Nebrija, it appears the vehicle drove through more than one room in the building.
“We are still determining the sequence of events. However, information right now has led us to determine that this was not a deliberate act,” he said.
In a statement on Thursday, York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween reiterated that investigators do not believe the crash was deliberate, and offered condolences to the family of the one-and-a-half-year-old boy.
“As a father, I can’t imagine the pain being felt by these young families,” MacSween said.
“Our thoughts are with all of those injured and impacted by this incident... We know the effects from this heartbreaking and traumatic event will be felt across the region.”
Province considering enhanced safety measures
On Wednesday, a source told CTV News that Ontario’s minister of education is considering enhanced safety measures at childcare centres in the wake of the tragedy.
Minister Paul Calandra elaborated on that in a statement on Thursday, saying the Ford government is planning to propose changes outside of daycares in hopes of implementing them immediately.
A Hyundai electric vehicle was pulled through the shattered window of the daycare and loaded onto a tow truck on Wednesday evening. It showed little visible damage aside from a dangling licence plate and broken glass on its hood.
On Thursday morning, the large window was boarded up with plywood and other pieces of lumber.
Just beneath it, a collection of stuffed animals sat facing the parking lot. Residents had also dropped off bouquets of flowers, a mini basketball and a candle.
A sign that read “please slow down” remained mounted on the wall next to the crash site.
Residents continued to stop by throughout the day to bring flowers and stuffed animals. Some of them brought their children. One father carried his young daughter as her mother laid down a bouquet.
Police confirmed a total of 96 kids were in multiple rooms at the centre when the crash happened.
With files from The Canadian Press and CP24’s Bryann Aguilar
