A horrific collision in Wellington County, Ontario, on Friday evening claimed the lives of five children, leaving several others seriously injured. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) confirmed the tragedy occurred at approximately 7:30 p. m. at the intersection of Wellington Road 12 and Fourth Line in Mapleton Township, northwest of Guelph.
Investigators say a passenger van carrying 10 people collided with a sport utility vehicle carrying one person. Tragically, five children, all related, were killed in the crash. The children ranged in age from four to 12 years old, comprising four girls and one boy. Their unimaginable loss has prompted widespread condolences from public officials, including Premier Doug Ford.
In addition to the fatalities, four adults and an infant sustained serious injuries and remain in hospital. The driver of the SUV also suffered serious injuries and is hospitalized. Emergency responders were commended for their swift actions at the scene, with some patients airlifted to trauma centres. The OPP traffic incident management and enforcement team is investigating the collision, and authorities are asking anyone with dashcam footage or who witnessed the event to come forward.
The intersection was closed for an extended period for the investigation and has since reopened. This incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of road safety and the devastating consequences that can result from traffic collisions.
