23-05-2025
‘Those kids were her world': Three children killed in Highway 401 crash involving allegedly impaired driver
A Toronto woman has lost 'her world' as she struggles in hospital to recover from injuries after an alleged drunk driver struck her family's car, killing three of her children aged 15, 13 and six.
Family friend Ervin Garcia, who confirmed the identities of the family, got a call from the children's father on Sunday afternoon with the shocking news.
It happened shortly after midnight Sunday when a 19-year-old allegedly lost control on a Highway 401 off-ramp and crashed into the Chrysler Pacifica carrying the family, Toronto police said.
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Ethan Lehouillier has been charged with three counts of impaired operation causing death, impaired operation causing bodily harm, dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
When Garcia heard from his friend, 'I just literally stopped dead in the middle of the street.
'I was in the Esplanade area (downtown Toronto) and a million drivers must have been honking at me,' he said. 'I was overcome with grief. I had to pull over a couple of times.'
The father, who was not in the car, told Garcia that only one of his four children, age 10, survived. The child suffered a broken arm, broken collarbone and numerous cuts and bruises to his face, Garcia said.
The identities of the family are now covered under a court-ordered publication ban.
The children's mother, who was rushed to Sunnybrook Hospital following the crash, suffered several broken ribs and a severe concussion, along with other injuries.
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'She's in a very severe amount of pain,' Garcia said. 'Those kids were her world, as much as they were (their father's).'
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A man who is a family friend was also seriously injured in the crash.
Garcia said he and several other friends rushed to SickKids to be with the father and son.
'It's a miracle he survived,' Garcia said of his godson, whom he said was up and trying to walk with the assistance of his father when he arrived at the hospital.
Police allege that the Georgetown man was driving a minivan at a high rate of speed when he lost control on the off-ramp, drove over a raised median on Renforth Drive and crashed into the vehicle, which was stopped at a red light.
The 15 and 13-year-olds were pronounced dead at the scene. The six-year-old was rushed to hospital but later died.
The crash happened shortly after midnight Sunday when a 19-year-old allegedly lost control on a Highway 401 off-ramp and crashed into the Chrysler Pacifica carrying the family, Toronto police said.
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Garcia said his busy schedule has limited his ability to see the children as often as he would've liked in recent years, but he has kept in close contact with their father.
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The two worked together for several years doing brick and stone masonry work on residential and commercial buildings, he added.
Garcia, 36, has known both parents since they were in their mid-teens and said he and the father, now in his mid-30s, developed their bond playing basketball in the Scarborough Filipino community leagues.
A GoFundMe, set up by another family friend, has already raised more than $96,000 in support of the bereaved family.
While Garcia said he is thankful for the outpouring of support, the heavy toll of the crash is immeasurable and 'we could raise $10 million and it would never replace those kids.'
A note posted to the GoFundMe reads that the family requests 'assistance to help them navigate this dark hour be it through donation or spreading awareness for them.'
The scene of the fatal crash.
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The Toronto Catholic District School Board confirmed that all four children are students with the board.
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'We are heartbroken by this loss, which will be felt deeply throughout our entire school community,' a TCDSB spokesperson said in an email to the Star.
The email also said that mental health and faith-based supports will be available to students and staff beginning Tuesday, including social work and psychology teams.
'In light of the ongoing police investigation, and 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.'
Garcia said he's 'angry with the suspect,' for what was a 'reckless and totally preventable crash.'
'These are three children's lives that were taken away from them,' he said. 'They were never able to fulfil their full potential in life.'
