Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
"Heartfelt condolences on tragic loss of Indian nationals Mr. Manivannan, Mrs. Mahalakshmi & their grandchild in the Highway 401 collision," the consulate wrote in a post on social media Friday afternoon.
According to the post, the consul general had met with the family at the hospital and "assured all possible assistance."
"We are in touch with Canadian authorities," the consulate said.
The three-month-old boy and his grandparents were travelling in a Nissan Sentra on the eastbound lanes of the highway in Whitby on Monday when the collision occurred. Before the crash, Durham Regional Police officers were in a high-speed pursuit of a suspect cargo van travelling west on the eastbound lanes.
The Special Investigations Unit (SIU), which is probing the actions of police in the April 29 incident, said the infant's parents were also in the Sentra with them at the time. They were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, the 21-year-old driver of the cargo van was pronounced dead at the scene, while a 38-year-old male passenger was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.
According to the SIU, the incident began at an LCBO store in Bowmanville, where Durham police were called for a robbery. The male suspect fled the scene, but officers followed him through numerous streets and on Highway 401.
The conduct of police has been under scrutiny following the fatal collision, with many questioning why officers continued to chase the suspect vehicle as it was going the wrong way on the highway.
"We understand there are many questions, however there is a legislated process regarding investigations conducted by the SIU that our service must adhere to," Durham police said in an April 30 statement, adding that they were fully cooperating with the investigation.
The SIU has designated two subject officials and four witness officials. Seven investigators, a forensic investigator and a collision reconstructionist have been assigned to the case.
With files from CP24's Joshua Freeman and Joanna Lavoie
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
'It's over': Minister says B.C.'s decision on Surrey police transition upheld in court
The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled in the provincial government's favour on the City of Surrey's legal challenge to its ongoing transition to a municipal police force, according to B.C. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth.
Luxury beauty brand Clarins to pull out of Hudson's Bay stores in Canada
French luxury makeup and skincare brand Clarins is pulling out of Hudson's Bay stores in Canada.
American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory
American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a nine-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.
Public to get rare look at Canadian treasures housed by Library and Archives Canada
Members of the public will get a rare look at precious Canadian artifacts when Library and Archives Canada (LAC) hosts an open house this weekend.
Air travel is expensive. WestJet wants the government to do more to change that
WestJet is asking the federal government to put measures in place to lower ticket costs for travellers, but questions remain on who would foot the bill.
Officer who arrested Scottie Scheffler is being disciplined for not having bodycam activated
The Kentucky police officer who arrested top-ranked golfer Scottie Scheffler outside the PGA Championship is receiving 'corrective action' for failing to have his body-worn camera activated.