Latest news with #Kirubananthan
Toronto Sun
3 days ago
- Toronto Sun
MANDEL: Why was alleged dangerous driver still behind the wheel?
Pictured in this GoFundMe photo is Andrew Cristillo and his family. Surely, they won't again release an accused dangerous driver now facing new charges of killing a father of three. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Or so you would think. But that's hardly a sure thing. A bail hearing was held in Oshawa Wednesday for 18-year-old Jaiwin Kirubananthan, who was arrested Aug. 3 after a head-on collision, on Hwy. 48 in Whitchurch-Stouffville, that killed Andrew Cristillo and injured his three daughters. The OPP said the driver fled the scene but was found and arrested a short time later. Now facing one count of dangerous driving causing death, three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failing to remain at the scene of an accident resulting in death, and public mischief, Kirubananthan's release is being opposed by the Crown. But why was he even behind the wheel in the first place? Kirubananthan is the same young driver charged in January with dangerous driving after a car travelling westbound on Hwy 401 sideswiped an OPP SUV carrying Premier Doug Ford as he left the Darlington Nuclear Station. 'We were just driving straight, and next thing we know, we got hammered, just hammered,' Ford told reporters after the Jan. 8 incident. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The accused has not had his charges tested in court in either this current crash or the one involving the premier. The speculation online is that the driver in both incidents was 'swimming' or 'cutting up' — a dangerous trend where motorists weave through traffic at high speed with some Instagram accounts dedicated to videos of the frightening practise on the 401 and other highways. What's shocking is that Kirubananthan wasn't even suspended from driving or held for a bail hearing at the time of the Ford crash. Instead, as CTV reports, a Whitby OPP officer simply gave him a Form 9 appearance notice to come to court when his trial is held in December. He's not that lucky this time. A standard publication ban covers the evidence heard at Kirubananthan's bail hearing where he was fighting to go home. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. His alleged victim will never get that chance. In a heartrending Gofundme post, his widow Christina described how her 'best friend and love of her life' was killed in the head-on crash while she and her three daughters were rushed to hospital. 'O ur hearts will always carry a void that can never be filled,' she wrote. 'This tragedy was not just an accident — it's the result of someone else's reckless actions. The other driver (allegedly) fled the scene and is under criminal investigation. While justice is being pursued, our focus now is survival physically, emotionally, and financially.' Their daughters Leah, 7, Chloe, 6, and Ella, 4, were being treated at Sick Kids for life-altering injuries, she said. 'The girls are doing well and will be going home soon! I will update you with more information as it presents itself,' she wrote in a post a few days ago. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. And that is wonderful news. So far, more than $407,000 has been raised for her girls to provide 'the stability, care, and opportunities' their father wanted for them. ' His greatest wish was for his family to be safe, happy, and cared for, and he worked tirelessly to give our daughters the best life and future he possibly could.' But there is still so much suffering ahead — the death of the 35-year-old husband and father is heartbreaking enough but this senseless collision has also taken away her main support while she battles breast cancer. Meanwhile, the young driver accused of causing this unimaginable pain remains in custody while Justice of the Peace Karen Valentine has reserved her bail decision until Friday. mmandel@ Editorial Cartoons Columnists Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto & GTA Columnists
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
Three young girls saw reckless driver kill dad in car crash...now their mother has stage four breast cancer
Three young sisters' lives have been left devastated after witnessing a reckless driver kill their father in a horror car crash - all while their mother battles breast cancer. Andrew Cristillo, 35, tragically died on August 3 after his car was allegedly hit head-on by Jaiwin Kirubananthan, 18, in Ontario, Canada. Andrew was driving back from a family gathering around 9.30pm with his wife Christina and their three daughters, Leah, seven, Chloe, six and Ella, four. The loving father and husband died instantly while Christina rushed to rescue their children, who were left crying in the back seat. As she did so, Kirubananthan fled the scene. He was located soon after and taken into custody, according to the Ontario Provincial Police. Kirubananthan has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failing to remain at the scene of an accident resulting in death, and public mischief, according to court documents reviewed by City News Toronto. Christina, who has been fighting stage four cancer, is now the sole provider and caregiver for their daughters. Their family has banded together to be there for the now-single mother who is watching over their girls after they were left with injuries following the car wreck. 'This is something you read about and to have it happen to you is a nightmare. It doesn't even feel real,' Jordan Cristillo, Andrew's younger brother, told the outlet. 'The girls have been taking it day by day. One of the difficult parts of this is although my brother has been killed, we can't process that because we are so focused on making sure the girls are okay.' Along with her health battle, Christina was also left injured from the car accident. 'She is the strongest person I've ever met and can only imagine the complete selflessness to ensure those three girls are cared for,' Jordan said of his sister-in-law. The grieving brother is determined to get justice for Andrew while his wife and children recover from the unimaginable. 'How can you flee when you hear three little girls crying for help, crying for daddy who is not able to respond, crying for mommy who's kicking out the windshield to get out to pull her daughters out of this wreckage,' he said of Kirubananthan. 'This wasn't an accident. This was complete and utter negligence and recklessness. Justice means that this doesn't happen to other families, they don't need to experience this unbearable pain and loss.' Christina echoed Jordan's stance, as the widow called for justice for her heartbroken family. 'This tragedy was not just an accident — it's the result of someone else's reckless actions. The other driver fled the scene and is under criminal investigation,' she wrote on a GoFundMe page. 'While justice is being pursued, our focus now is survival physically, emotionally, and financially.' Andrew's wife and brother have remembered him as a loving person who was devoted to his family. 'My brother was the funniest person I ever met. He really pursued everything with 110 percent,' Jordan recalled. 'Various interest and he would always jump in with both feet and he loved to share his passion with others. He was always there for people too.' Christina called Andrew her 'best friend and the love of my life.' 'Andrew had a wicked sense of humor and a way of lighting up every room he walked into — the life of the party, the friend everyone wanted by their side, the one who could make you smile even on your worst day,' she said. 'His greatest wish was for his family to be safe, happy, and cared for, and he worked tirelessly to give our daughters the best life and future he possibly could.' As of Tuesday morning, more than $351,400 CAD ($255,090 USD), has been raised for the family during this difficult time. Andrew worked as a site supervisor at Pro Caissons Ltd., a drilling contractor in the area. Jordan said he believes his late brother 'is the reason why those three girls and Christina are able to live to see another day, it's because he saved them.' This was not the first time Kirubananthan was involved in a car crash, as he collided with a Ontario Provincial Police vehicle carrying Premier Doug Ford in January. Ford and other occupants in the vehicle were left unharmed. Kirubananthan was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle in connection to that crash, per court records obtained by City News Toronto. He appeared at a bail hearing on Monday morning for the recent crash, CTV News reported.
