A teenager faced court charges on Friday in Oshawa following a tragic accident that claimed the life of a father and left his three daughters seriously injured.
The incident occurred on Highway 48 in Whitchurch-Stouffville, resulting in the death of Andrew Cristillo and injuries to his three young daughters. The driver of the other vehicle initially fled but was later apprehended without incident.
Jaiwin Kirubananthan, an 18-year-old from Oshawa, has been charged with multiple offenses including dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm, as well as failing to remain at the scene of the accident. He was also involved in a previous crash in January.
In response to the tragedy, Cristillo’s brother is advocating for legislative changes through a petition known as “The Andrew Law.” This proposed law aims to enforce stricter penalties for dangerous drivers, including mandatory bans and harsh sentencing to prevent similar incidents.
The family is grappling with the aftermath of the accident, with the young girls sustaining life-altering injuries and their mother facing challenges from both the crash and battling breast cancer. A GoFundMe page has been set up to aid in their long-term recovery.
Kirubananthan is currently in custody and is set to appear in court again on August 25.