Provincial police are now alleging that alcohol was a factor in a crash on Hwy. 401 that killed a London mother and her daughter.
Sarah Payne, 42, and her 5-year-old daughter Freya died August 29 after a pickup truck crossed the median on Hwy. 401 near Dutton and collided with their minivan. Six-year-old William Payne was injured in the crash.
On Friday, Elgin OPP announced that the driver of the pickup, 53-year-old Hubert Domonchuk of Cambridge, is now charged with two counts of impaired driving causing death, once count of impaired driving causing bodily harm, two counts of dangerous driving causing death, one count of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and one count of possession of a Schedule II substance (cannabis resin).
"There is no way to diminish the long lasting tragic impact on family, friends and loved-ones left behind in cases involving impaired driving, distracted driving, aggressive driving or lack of seat belt compliance," says OPP Traffic and Marine Inspector Lisa Anderson. "These highly preventable driver behaviors remain the leading casual factors of injury and death on our West Region highways."
Police say Domonchuk was arrested then released from custody with a court date of November 14.
In the wake of the collision, a petition was launched to erect median barriers along the stretch of Hwy. 401 between London and Tilbury. That petition will be delivered to Queen's Park on Wednesday.