Ontario police say 'escalating incidents' between high schools connected to deadly crash
“Escalating incidents” between two Hamilton high schools are believed to be connected to a car crash last week that left a 15-year-old boy dead, police say.
Witnesses reported to police that two or three vehicles were racing on the Lincoln Alexander Parkway, near the Upper Gage Avenue overpass, just after 2:30 p.m. on Friday.
At one point, two of the vehicles collided and lost control.
While the driver of one vehicle regained control, the other, who was driving a Toyota SUV, left the road and rolled several times, police said, adding that one or more occupants were ejected from the vehicle.
Three of the Toyota’s occupants were transported to hospital with serious injuries. One of the occupants, a 15-year-old boy from Hamilton, was pronounced dead shorty after.
In an update on Monday, police said investigators have since learned that the drivers of a black Ford Focus and a silver Infiniti were chasing a Toyota Rav 4 in the parking lot at St. Jean de Brebeuf Secondary School “moments before the fatal collision.”
“The collision is believed to be connected to a series of escalating incidents between St. Jean de Brebeuf and Nora Frances Henderson students,” police said.
Police have not said what preceded the chase or released any additional information about the apparent tensions between the two schools.
The 15-year-old boy who died has not been identified by police, however, 18-year-old Hamilton resident Vincenzino Stumpo has been charged with dangerous operation causing bodily harm and dangerous operation causing death.
It’s unclear if Stumpo or the victim were students at either school.
Hamilton police said it will work with the communities of both schools, which are located a little over a kilometre away from each other, to “ensure the safety of staff and students.”
Police added that “officers will be in the area of St. Jean de Brebeuf and Nora Frances Henderson Secondary schools on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 to maintain a secure environment and address any concerns.”
The driver of the silver Infiniti has not yet been located and investigators are advising him to surrender to police.
Police said their investigation into the crash continues and are asking anyone who witnessed the collision to contact investigators at 905-546-4753 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's response to Trump deportation plan a key focus of revived cabinet committee
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's promise to launch a mass deportation of millions of undocumented people has the Canadian government looking at its own border.
Who should lead the Liberals? 'None of the above,' poll finds
As questions loom over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership, a new Nanos Research poll commissioned for CTV News says a quarter of Canadians say none of the potential candidates appeal to them.
New technology solves mystery of late First World War soldier's flower sent home to Canada
In 1916, Harold Wrong plucked a flower from the fields of Somme, France and tucked it into a letter he mailed home to Toronto. For decades, the type of flower sent remained a mystery.
U.S. election maps: How did 2024 compare to 2020 and 2016?
Though two states have yet to be officially called, the U.S. election map has mostly been settled. How does it compare with the previous two elections?
Canada rent report: What landlords are asking tenants to pay
Average asking rents declined nationally on a year-over-year basis for the first time in more than three years in October, said a report out Thursday.
N.S. school 'deeply sorry' for asking service members not to wear uniforms at Remembrance Day ceremony
An elementary school in the Halifax area has backed away from a request that service members not wear uniforms to the school's Remembrance Day ceremony.
Remembrance Day: What's open and closed in Canada?
While banks and post offices will be closed nationwide on Remembrance Day, shops and businesses could be open depending on where you live in Canada.
Judicial recount for Surrey-Guildford confirms B.C. NDP's majority
The B.C. New Democrats have a majority government of 47 seats after a judicial recount in the riding of Surrey-Guildford gave the party's candidate 22 more votes than the provincial Conservatives.
48,584 space heaters recalled in Canada after burn injury in U.S.
Health Canada has announced a recall for electric space heaters over potential fire and burn risks, a notice published Thursday reads.