Ontario family releases statement on infant son, grandparents killed in wrong-way Highway 401 crash
An Ontario family says they are “reeling” in “profound grief" after losing their three-month-old son and parents visiting from India in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last Monday.
In a statement released on behalf of the family by the Special Investigations Unit on Sunday, the parents wrote that they lost "three of the most precious people" in their lives.
“The aftermath has left an indelible mark on our lives, with profound grief,” Gokulnath Manivannan and Ashwitha Jawahar wrote.
They said their son's little toys and clothes are still spread around their house. “We have no courage in us to even enter our home which is filled with our only son’s memories,” Manivannan wrote.
“We are at a complete loss of words to describe the agony and vacuum in our hearts knowing we can never hold our child Aditya Vivaan, who gave us so many precious memories in such a short time."
Just two days before the crash, Manivannan said his father, Mr. Manivannan Srinivasapillai, and mother, Mrs. Mahalakshmi Ananthakrishnan, travelled from Chennai, India to Toronto for the sole purpose of spending time with their grandson.
On Monday, the family was travelling in a Nissan Sentra on the eastbound lanes of Highway 401 in Whitby when Durham Regional Police were involved in a high-speed chase of a suspect fleeing west on the eastbound lanes.
The chase ultimately resulted in the life-changing crash.
Manivannan wrote his father, who had recently retired at 60 years old, and mother, who was 55, were “overjoyed” with the opportunity to spend time with their grandson and step into the “year of grandparents fun.”
Manivannan and Jawahar were also in the Sentra during the collision and taken to hospital for treatment. In the statement on Sunday, Manivannan said his wife has suffered surgeries and repeated flashbacks of the trauma while the pain of his own injuries pales as he grapples with the shock of losing his parents and only son in the same night.
“While we begin the arduous journey of planning farewells for our loved ones, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community who hold our family in their thoughts. Amidst these challenging circumstances, we kindly ask for the space to heal in private.”
A cremation will take place for the grandparents on Monday at 11 a.m. followed by the cremation of the three-month-old on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Forest Lawn Crematorium.
Visitation services will take place on Wednesday morning from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Blaine Higgs 'furious' over sexual education presentation
New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs has shared his anger on social media over a presentation in at least four high schools.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Grayson Murray's parents say the two-time PGA Tour winner died of suicide
Grayson Murray's parents said Sunday their 30-year-old son took his own life, just one day after he withdrew from a PGA Tour event.
Some birds may use 'mental time travel,' study finds
Real quick — what did you have for lunch yesterday? Were you with anyone? Where were you? Can you picture the scene? The ability to remember things that happened to you in the past, especially to go back and recall little incidental details, is a hallmark of what psychologists call episodic memory — and new research indicates that it’s an ability humans may share with birds called Eurasian jays.
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
Driver, 18, gets $3,000 ticket, 32 demerit points after speeding on Laval boulevard
A young driver received a hefty fine from Laval police after they say he was driving nearly 100 km/h over the posted speed limit.
Indianapolis 500 delayed as strong storm forces fans to evacuate Indianapolis Motor Speedway
The start of the Indianapolis 500 was delayed as a strong storm pushed through the area Sunday, forcing Indianapolis Motor Speedway officials to evacuate about 125,000 fans who had already arrived for "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
Hamas rocket attack from Gaza sets off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv for the first time in months
Hamas fired a barrage of rockets from Gaza that set off air raid sirens as far away as Tel Aviv for the first time in months on Sunday in a show of resilience more than seven months into Israel's massive air, sea and ground offensive.
At least 13 dead in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after severe weather roars across region
Powerful storms killed at least 13 people and left a wide trail of destruction Sunday across Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas after obliterating homes and destroying a truck stop where dozens sought shelter in a restroom during the latest deadly weather to strike the central U.S.