An SUV careened through the window of a Richmond Hill daycare Wednesday in a horrific crash that left a toddler dead and six other children injured in what police were describing as “not a deliberate act.”
The boy, one-and-a-half years old, was pronounced dead after he was rushed to hospital following the 3 p.m. crash. Another child was in serious condition while five other children and three adult staff, all taken to hospital, were treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
Investigators photograph of a small shoe in the parking lot of the First Roots Early Education Academy in Richmond Hill following the crash Wednesday.
Richard Lautens/色色啦 StarPolice said there were 96 children in the daycare at the time.
Police officers raced onto Nottingham Drive, surrounding the First Roots Early Education Academy. Through shattered glass, the vehicle appeared to have cut clean through one of the daycare rooms, smashing through the drywall on the other side. Still clinging to the walls were photos of some of the children, a colourful poster on how to identify types of clothing and a large depiction of Stitch, the friendly monster from Disney’s popular franchise.
Police taped off the front of First Roots Early Education Academy at Yonge Street and Nottingham Drive in Richmond Hill.
Richard Lautens/色色啦 StarA small, plastic yellow chair, bookcase and basket marked “PUZZLES” were strewn around the room, bowled over in the car’s wake.
“Heartbroken and deeply saddened by the tragic incident at our center,” a statement on the daycare’s Instagram read Wednesday night. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family during this incredibly difficult time.”
In the parking lot, forensic officers photographed a pair of tiny blue sneakers with neon green laces, one holding a paper bag to log them into evidence.
The driver, a man in his 70s, was arrested at the scene and charged with dangerous operation causing death and dangerous operation causing bodily harm, York police said in an update Thursday.
Nebrija said early witness information had led police to believe “this was not a deliberate act.鈥澛
鈥淚nitial information suggests the vehicle was in the parking lot at the time, and for reasons unknown, drove through the front of the window,鈥 Nebrija said. 鈥淎s you can imagine, this was a very chaotic scene.鈥
Police had set up a reunification point for kids and parents on nearby Thornbush Court ahead of rush hour traffic.
鈥淲e can appreciate this is a very alarming call for parents to receive and to attend at the end of their day,鈥 Nebrija said.
He confirmed that the SUV may have gone through multiple rooms, part of what investigators were working after sundown to determine.
As the light outside began to fade, firefighters helped to haul a Hyundai Ioniq electric SUV out of the building onto a tow truck. There was little apparent damage to the vehicle. The front licence plate hung to one side, and glass shrapnel could be seen on the hood.
Flood lights illuminated the daycare’s interior through the broken window as police officers continued to work after sundown.
Richmond Mayor Hill David West said the incident was “profoundly unsettling.”
As a parent himself, he offered his “deepest condolences” to the family and staff that were affected.
Residents of the Richmond Hill neighbourhood gathered at the crash scene at the First Roots Early Education Academy.
Richard Lautens/色色啦 Star“I stand firmly with you united in grief, care, and resilience,” the mayor wrote in a post to Facebook. “Please reach out to those who have been directly impacted, offering comfort and strength.”
He expressed his gratitude toward the first responders and added that police will be conducting a “comprehensive investigation” into the crash.
“In this moment, I urge our community join in compassion and support.”
The buzzing of helicopters circling over the quiet central Richmond Hill was the first sign for many that something was horribly wrong.
It happened so quickly that neither residents nor mechanics at two nearby auto body repair shops realized anything was amiss. Then came police car after police car followed by five ambulances.
Jalili Hakimi, who has lived in the neighbourhood for 13 years, said he was concerned about the placement of the daycare and wished there were more security measures in place along the glass window.
鈥淵ou can see there is no shield in front of the parking spot, just close to the big glass wall and (there are) kids under two and three,鈥 Hakimi said. 鈥淭here should be a big shield (to) protect as an extra safety measure.鈥
Keyi Zhang, who owns a different daycare nearby, said she could not 鈥渋magine (what) the parents are going through because they send their children to the daycare and they come back and they’re on the floor.鈥
She said there is a deeper question about whether safety protections for daycare buildings are strict enough and if they should require reinforcements like bollards for the front of buildings. She said she planned to contact the provincial government.
Vincent Neil Ho, the MP for the daycare鈥檚 riding of Richmond Hill South, offered his condolences to the families on social media, saying that the entire community was grieving with them.
鈥淎s a father of an infant, I cannot imagine the pain these families are facing,鈥 he wrote. 鈥淣o parent should ever fear for their child鈥檚 safety in a place meant to nurture and protect.鈥
He continued: 鈥淢y heart goes out to the parents, children, and staff impacted by this heartbreaking tragedy.”
Paul Calandra, Ontario鈥檚 minister of education and MPP for Markham-Stouffville, said in a post to social media that he was 鈥渄eeply concerned by the tragic incident.鈥
鈥淕rateful to first responders for their swift action, and thinking of everyone affected during this very difficult time,鈥 Calandra said.
Calandra and Children, Community and Social Services Minister Michael Parsa cancelled a press conference that was scheduled for Thursday morning in York Region, with a spokesperson saying it was done out of respect for those affected by the tragic accident.
The crash brought back difficult memories for the mayor of Montreal-area Laval, Que., where a city bus drove into a daycare in 2023, killing two children and injuring six others. A Quebec Superior Court judge declared the driver not criminally responsible in the crash earlier this year.
“My thoughts are with the children, families and educators affected in Ontario, as well as the entire Richmond Hill community,” Mayor St茅phane Boyer said in a post on social media. “In Laval, we sadly know how deeply such a tragedy can affect a community and leave deep scars.”
With files from Kris Rushowy and The Canadian Press
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