BRAMPTON, Ont. — A woman and three of her children died Thursday following a four-vehicle crash in Brampton, Ont., that is now being investigated by the province's police watchdog.
Peel Regional Police say the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has been called in to investigate the collision, which happened shortly after noon in a suburban part of the city.
"This is a devastating, devastating incident. To learn of three children that have died as well as another female, it's shocking," said Peel police Const. Akhil Mooken.
Mooken declined to comment on why the Special Investigations Unit was involved.
The SIU said the victims include a 37-year-old woman and her three daughters, ages one, four, and six.
The unit said preliminary information suggests a Peel Regional Police officer was travelling westbound when he observed an Infiniti travelling eastbound.
Investigators said shortly after the Infiniti collided with a van that had been travelling northbound. Inside the van were the mother and her children.
The SIU said the six-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene. The mother and her four-year-old daughter were pronounced dead at the Brampton Civic Hospital.
The one-year-old had also been transported to the Brampton hospital, but was taken to the Hospital for Sick Children where she died of her injuries.
The SIU said the driver of the Infiniti was seriously injured and taken to hospital for treatment and two other vehicles were damaged.
The unit said four investigators, three forensic investigators and one collision reconstructionist have been assigned to the case.
Peel officers were still on the scene Thursday evening, gathering evidence that they'll share with the SIU, Mooken said.
The SIU is automatically called in to investigate any incidents involving police where there are serious injuries, deaths or allegations of sexual assault.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 18, 2020.
The Canadian Press
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version, based on information from the police, had an incorrect number of deceased.
