An Indian couple and their three-month-old grandchild died in a road mishap during a police chase in Canada’s Toronto city, media reports said.
The incident took place on Highway 401 east of Toronto. The couple was visiting the North American country.
They were identified as Manivannan and Mahalakshmi, as per reports.
“Heartfelt condolences on tragic loss of Indian nationals Mr. Manivannan, Mrs. Mahalakshmi & their grandchild in the Highway 401 collision. CG met the bereaved family at the hospital & assured all possible assistance. We are in touch with Canadian authorities @MEAIndia @HCI_Ottawa,” read a post by the Consulate General of India, Toronto, on X.
Special Investigations Unit said in a statement: “An occupant of the cargo van was pronounced deceased at the scene. Three individuals – a 60-year-old, a 55-year-old and an infant – were also pronounced deceased at the scene. One other person was transported to hospital for treatment of serious injuries.”
The collision was reportedly the result of a police chase that began with an alleged liquor store robbery in Bowmanville, Ont., in the regional municipality of Clarington.
The police began the chase after the suspect drove the wrong way on Highway 401 in Whitby.
Seven investigators, one forensic investigator and one collision reconstructionist continue to investigate this case.
SIU later said the suspect was a 21-year-old man.
Meanwhile, the 33-year-old father and 27-year-old mother of the infant also sustained injuries during the accident. They were both rushed to the hospital, where the woman was undergoing treatment for serious injuries.
A cargo van, which was involved in the collision, also suffered casualties. The 21-year-old male driver of the vehicle died at the scene, while another passenger, a 38-year-old male, was hospitalised with serious injuries.
Milica Maljkovic Birkett, who is a witness in the incident, told CBC News: “I was like, ‘Oh my God, like what just happened? What’s going on?'”
“It’s so scary,” she said. “For whatever reason, somehow my life was spared. But [four] others were taken and that was just really heavy.”