The family of a woman who was killed in a collision that involved a vehicle travelling the wrong way on Highway 407 is overwhelmed by grief this Thanksgiving.
When 47-year-old Carol Grimmond left her grandfather’s 99th birthday gathering in Vaughan with her twin brother Saturday night, she told her extended family she’d see them soon.
The siblings had recently relocated to Windsor and were driving on Highway 407 to their mother’s place in Oakville, when police say they were struck by a Mazda 3 that was driving the wrong way in the westbound lanes.
Grimmond died from her injuries, while her brother suffered minor injuries.
The female driver of the Mazda 3 also sustained minor injuries and was arrested at the scene.
Grimmond’s aunt told CTV Toronto that Grimmond’s brother, who was driving the car, couldn't avoid the situation.
“He said there was nothing that he could have done. The car just came towards him and just came out of nowhere,” said Yvette Grimmond.
The tragic incident should serve as a reminder that it’s never OK to drink and drive, said OPP Const. Dave Woodford.
“People just don’t get the message, you can’t be out there drinking and then getting behind the wheel of a car,” he said.
Now, during what was supposed to be a time of celebration and family, Grimmond’s relatives are struggling to comprehend how this could have happened.
“We don't know what to do, we don't understand why this happened,” said Yvette Grimmond. “It was senseless. It should never have happened and no family should being go through this.
“You have to think, take responsibility for your actions…We will never be the same because of this,” she said.
Oakville resident Mary Sampson, 55, has been charged with several offences including impaired driving causing death, criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.
Anyone with any information about this case is asked to contact the OPP at 905-841-5777.
With a report from CTV Toronto’s Tamara Cherry
