Children Killed in Highway 401 Crash | Teen Faces Impaired Driving Charges
A devastating crash on Highway 401 in Etobicoke early Sunday has left the country in mourning, with three children killed in the Highway 401 collision and three others hospitalized. The driver, a 19-year-old man from Georgetown, now faces 12 criminal charges, including three counts of impaired driving causing death, according to Toronto police.
Crash Happened Near Renforth Drive Just After Midnight
The crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. on May 18, when a Dodge Caravan traveling at high speed on the eastbound off-ramp at Renforth Drive lost control, jumped a median, and slammed into a Chrysler Pacifica stopped at a red light.
Inside the Pacifica were a mother, her four children, and a family friend who was driving.
“A family is torn apart,” said Acting Insp. Baheer Sarbanandan during a press briefing.
Fire Chief Jim Jessop called it “one of the most difficult scenes” his team has ever attended.
Victims Identified and Injuries
Three siblings — Ramone (15), Jace (13), and Maya Lavina (6) — lost their lives. The 15- and 13-year-olds died at the scene, while Maya succumbed to injuries at the hospital.
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Paramedics also hospitalized a fourth child (10), their 35-year-old mother, and the 40-year-old male driver with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
A GoFundMe for the Lavina family has now raised over $143,000 to help with their loss and recovery.
Driver Charged, Investigation Ongoing to the Children Killed in Highway 401
The alleged driver, Ethan Lehouillier, appeared via video from a detention centre on Tuesday, May 20, wearing an orange jumpsuit. He only spoke to confirm his name and did not request a bail hearing.
He faces the following charges:
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- 3 counts of impaired operation causing death
- 3 counts of impaired operation causing bodily harm
- 3 counts of dangerous driving causing death
- 3 counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm
He’ll return to court next month. His lawyer, Christopher Avery, told CBC it’s too early to say if bail will be sought.
MADD Calls for Action: “It’s Difficult to Keep Hearing These Stories”
The crash has once again brought impaired driving to the forefront of public concern. Steven Sullivan, CEO of MADD Canada, said incidents like this are “frustrating” and “heartbreaking.”
“Young men are often the hardest group to reach with impaired driving messaging,” Sullivan said in an interview with CBC’s Metro Morning.
He emphasized the need for:
- More public education and enforcement
- New technology to detect driver impairment
- Stronger legislation, such as automatic anti-impaired systems in vehicles — something the U.S. is mandating by 2026
“No impaired driver ever thinks it’s going to be them,” Sullivan said. “But someone always pays the price.”
Ongoing Investigation and Community Support
Toronto Police are continuing their investigation and urge anyone with dashcam footage or witness accounts to come forward. The off-ramp at Renforth Drive remains closed.
All four children involved were students in the Toronto Catholic District School Board, which is now providing support services for classmates and educators affected by the tragedy.
Comparisons to Past Tragedie
Many have drawn painful parallels to:
- The 2015 Neville-Lake crash, where three siblings and their grandfather were killed by an impaired driver in Vaughan.
- The 2020 Brampton crash, in which a mother and her three daughters were killed by another drunk driver. That driver received a 17-year sentence.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford condemned the crash, calling it “heartbreaking” and demanding “the harshest punishment possible” for the accused.
Have incidents like this changed the way you think about impaired driving laws or vehicle technology? Share your thoughts below.
More…
- https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/05/18/3-children-killed-in-two-vehicle-crash-driver-arrested-for-suspected-drunk-driving
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/three-children-dead-highway-401-crash-etobicoke-1.7538219
- https://globalnews.ca/news/11185845/3-kids-dead-19-year-old-drunk-driving-toronto
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