A devastating early-morning crash has left a Toronto family shattered and the community in mourning after three children were killed in a collision allegedly caused by an impaired teenage driver. Toronto police shared the tragic details at a press conference on Sunday, just hours after the fatal incident occurred.
The crash took place shortly after midnight on the eastbound off-ramp at Renforth Drive and Highway 401. According to Acting Inspector Baheer Sarbanandan of the Toronto Police Service, a 19-year-old driver was behind the wheel of a Dodge Caravan traveling eastbound on the highway. The teen, identified as Ethan Lehouillier of Georgetown, Ontario, was allegedly speeding as he exited the highway at Renforth Drive.
Police say Lehouillier lost control of the vehicle, crossed a raised median, and violently collided with a Chrysler Pacifica minivan that was stopped at a red light facing northbound. Inside the minivan were a 35-year-old mother, her four children, and a 40-year-old male acquaintance of the family.
The collision proved catastrophic. Two of the children, a 15-year-old and a 13-year-old, were pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. A six-year-old child was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition, but tragically succumbed to her injuries shortly after arriving.
Three other occupants survived the crash but were left with serious injuries. The mother, her 10-year-old child, and the male passenger remain in hospital, where they are reported to be in stable condition. Their names have not yet been released, as the family and authorities are still notifying next of kin and dealing with the immediate aftermath of this overwhelming loss.
Police arrested Lehouillier at the scene of the collision. He is now facing 12 criminal charges, including three counts of impaired driving causing death, three counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm, and additional related offenses. Authorities have stated that alcohol impairment and excessive speed were contributing factors in the crash.
“This was a completely preventable tragedy,” said Acting Insp. Sarbanandan during the emotional news conference. “We educate the public about the dangers of drinking and driving, and this is the result: a family torn apart, three young lives lost, and an entire community in shock.”
Sarbanandan described the crash as “a fatal decision” stemming from one individual’s choice to get behind the wheel while impaired. He emphasized the profound impact such decisions can have—not just on victims, but on entire families and communities. “The pain caused by this kind of recklessness is unimaginable,” he said. “No parent should ever have to bury their children because someone chose to drink and drive.”
Toronto Police are now asking for the public’s help in piecing together the events leading up to the crash. Investigators are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who may have witnessed the Dodge Caravan traveling eastbound on Highway 401 shortly before the crash. They are also requesting any dashcam footage from vehicles that may have been in the area around the time of the incident.
The intersection where the collision occurred remained closed for several hours Sunday as collision reconstruction teams worked to gather evidence. Community members left flowers and notes nearby in a spontaneous memorial to the young victims.
The tragic loss has reignited calls for stronger enforcement and harsher penalties for impaired driving, especially involving young or new drivers. Advocates are urging people to speak up, take away keys, and call authorities if someone appears too impaired to drive. “One poor decision can end multiple lives,” said one local resident. “It’s not worth it.”
As the family begins to navigate life after this immense loss, Toronto grieves with them. Support services and grief counseling are being offered to students, relatives, and first responders affected by the tragedy.
This senseless loss of life serves as a painful reminder: impaired driving doesn’t just ruin one life—it destroys many.
