Infant and Grandparents Killed in Highway 401 Collision Amid Police Pursuit

Tragedy struck east of Toronto late Monday as four individuals, including an infant, lost their lives in a devastating crash. The collision occurred after law enforcement pursued a robbery suspect traveling against traffic on Highway 401, as disclosed by Ontario’s police watchdog.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is slated to unveil further details at a press briefing near the accident site on Tuesday morning.

Initial reports from Durham Regional Police indicate that the sequence of events unfolded following a robbery alert in Clarington, located east of the crash site, at approximately 7:50 p.m. ET. According to Sgt. Joanne Bortoluss, the suspect attempted to evade authorities by fleeing in a vehicle, prompting a pursuit by law enforcement personnel.

“The suspect fled in a vehicle, which was pursued by police,” Bortoluss affirmed.

Despite police efforts, the suspect managed to access Highway 401, proceeding in the wrong direction along the eastbound lanes. The tragic collision transpired near the Highway 412 exit in Whitby, approximately 50 kilometers east of Toronto.

Video footage circulating on social media platforms, notably X (formerly Twitter), captures the alarming sight of a rental van recklessly navigating through oncoming traffic, closely trailed by Durham police vehicles. The footage abruptly shifts to the aftermath of a fiery crash at the highway’s periphery.

In another video captured from an alternate perspective, a severely damaged transport truck lies in ruin against the concrete median, underscoring the magnitude of the collision.

Overnight, the Ontario Provincial Police implemented a closure of Highway 401 in both directions, later restoring full traffic flow.

The SIU, tasked with scrutinizing incidents involving police conduct that may result in fatalities, severe injuries, or firearm discharges, has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic collision.