Grandparents, grandchild among 4 dead in wrong-way 401 pursuit crash

Ontario’s police watchdog says an infant is among the four people killed in a crash involving multiple police vehicles Monday night in a town east of Toronto.

Three other individuals were pronounced dead on scene, including a 55-year-old, a 60-year old, and the driver of a cargo-van that was travelling westbound in the eastbound lanes of the 401.

According to the latest report from officials, the incident began around 7:50 p.m. Monday when the Durham Regional Police Service was called out to a robbery at an LCBO in Clarington.

Upon their arrival, they located a cargo van of interest and proceeded to follow the van through numerous streets in the Durham region, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) says.

“At some point, the cargo van entered Highway 401 at Stevenson Road, going in the wrong direction. It was traveling westbound in eastbound lanes,” reads the watchdog’s latest update.

The SIU says shortly after, there was a multi-vehicle collision involving at least six vehicles.

Authorities have revealed that four people were killed in the crash. A fifth person remains hospitalized in serious condition.

At this time, investigators have not provided further details on the identity of the victims or the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Following the crash, the roadway was closed throughout the night and into the following morning. It has since reopened.

– With files from the Canadian Press

[ocean]

Someone out there lost their parents and child at once. 😞

[toypianokeys]

What in the world. These are the same officers that tell us to leave our car keys by the door for car theives?

[tabathaogost]

This such an insane decision, there were many police cars chasing, weaving in and out of lanes at over 150km/hr I can't believe it. They really thought they were in a movie. What exactly did they think was going to happen?

[appledpickle]

I wonder what they stole that was worth 4 lives?...

[Jake-btfc]

Why would the police try so hard to arrest somebody when they know they'll just get let out with no bail the next day?

[Quranintoxication]

They ignore high profile car thieves while chasing after an LCBO robber and killing 4 innocent people. What is wrong with law enforcement in this country?

[omidfarsani]

"We did an internal investigation and found we didn't do anything wrong" is what we will hear in a couple of weeks or months.

[Sarah-cswp]

Those poor parents of the baby. Omg. My heart. I’m so sorry for them. Those bastard cops and criminals

[CMH]

Very irresponsible of the cops to continue chasing that vehicle in the wrong direction

[luc]

This is so awful. I can't imagine anybody getting this sort of news.

I hope the surviving family members get the help, support and love from family, friends and neighbors because God knows they're going to need it

[Shaz]

So... how irresponsible is it for cops to pursue someone in the wrong direction. Not one but two vehicles speeding into oncoming traffic??! This is insane 😕

[brianrip]

Why didn’t they call off the chase. There was easily a 200kmph difference in speed with one guy going one way and someone going the other, it was 💯 going to end in death for someone once they hit something

[MrHemispd]

This agency already HAS helicopters. 2 of them..

[matt]

The police chasing someone with nothing to lose the wrong way on the 401 over a robbery is a criminal act in and of itself, morally irresponsible and everyone knows it. People need to be fired and province wide policy needs to be reviewed. If the police had dropped the pursuit chances are the truck would have slowed down, exited the highway or they would have bailed.

[rmoon]

The risk ratio of pursuing in the wrong direction is far too high to even consider it. It's the same reason they won't pursue sport bikes. My heart goes out to the poor Grandparents and their grandchild.

[helifynoe]

In other countries, the chase is immediately called off if other drivers and or pedestrians lives are put at risk. Sadly, apparently prevention is not always a requirement here. Thus you must be willing to give your life to allow the police to catch their suspects. Does not sound right to me, to the infinite degree.

[sehall]

So robbing a store is a death sentence for innocent people? The police over reacted. I am disgusted.

[DuckPilled]

Why would the police chase someone in that situation? Why not just let them go and figure it out later? Now these innocent people are dead. Was it worth it?

[gh-dwtg]

No consequences means more crimes and corruptions.

[bradgriffiths]

The police should of called off the chase soon as it entered the 401. The police are partly the blame for this