York Regional Police have charged a driver whose vehicle crashed into a Richmond Hill daycare on Wednesday afternoon, killing a toddler and injuring other children.
Police in York Region said the vehicle went into the building in the Yonge Street and Nottingham Drive area around 3 p.m. on Sept. 10.
Eyewitnesses tell CityNews the vehicle drove from the parking lot into the window of one of the learning spaces of the First Roots Early Education Academy.
Seven children, along with three staff members, were taken to the hospital, where an 18-month-old toddler was pronounced dead. One other child remains in serious condition.
Police said at the time of the crash, there were 96 children present in more than one room in the building. All children have been accounted for, and parents have been notified.
A man in his 70s was taken into custody at the scene. A police spokesperson tells CityNews the man has been charged with dangerous operation causing death and dangerous operation causing bodily harm.
Police have said the incident does not appear to be a deliberate act.
“As you can imagine, this was a very chaotic scene,” said Const. Kevin Nebrija. “The initial information suggests the vehicle was in the parking lot at the time and, for reasons unknown, drove through the front of the window.”
Steven, whose 19-month-old daughter was among the injured, tells CityNews he was shocked to receive a text from the daycare about the incident.
“She’s currently in the hospital. I could see blood all over her left ear and her clothes. I’m just trying to get her some cookies and some clothes, her favourite blankets, so I’m just driving back to the hospital right now,” he said.
Memorial grows outside daycare
A memorial continues to grow outside the daycare, as neighbours are left reeling in the aftermath of the crash.
Farrokh Zandi, who lives across from the daycare, said he went outside after seeing the news of what happened on his computer.
“I just came out to see these police cars and then I was listening to the news while I was watching what was happening out in front (of me),” he said, adding it was “very tragic.”
Zandi said he thinks of the area as safe, and it was “very scary” to see that something like this could happen.
“I am sure these parents must be going through hell,” he added.
Faati Tabatabaei said one of the children from the daycare came with their parents to pick up a sibling from the nearby after-school program where she works.
She said the child had a scratch and looked scared.
“I am scared too, because I don’t know what happened exactly, and it is like, you don’t feel safe,” she said.
Richmond Hill Mayor David West visited the crash site and called the incident “unimaginable.”
“It is hard to get your head around a tragedy like this,” he said. “It was shocking.”
West said he will speak with the family of the victim when the time is right.
“This is the worst day I have ever had in this position as mayor, for sure, it was a very tragic and horrible day here in our city.”
York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween said in a post online that “no family should have to deal with a tragedy like this.”
MacSween said police will “continue to investigate this incident and provide support to the victims and to the responding officers.”
Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra said in a separate post that he was “deeply concerned by the tragic incident” and that his thoughts were with everyone affected.
Files from The Canadian Press were used in this report.