Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford attends a meeting of the prime ministers of the Canadian provinces on December 7, 2018, in Montreal. (Photo by MARTIN OUELLET-DIOTTE/AFP via Getty Images)
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said his government will be introducing legislation aimed at strengthening dangerous driving laws after a father of three was killed by an alleged dangerous driver.
The father of three, Andrew Cristillo, was killed in the collision that occurred in Whitchurch-Stouffville on Aug. 3. His wife and three daughters were injured in the collision.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said the 18-year-old suspect fled the scene, but was located and arrested a short time later.
OPP say the alleged driver, Jaiwin Kirubananthan, has been charged with dangerous driving causing death, three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, failing to remain at an accident resulting in death, and public mischief.
The driver is the same individual who hit a vehicle that Ford was traveling in earlier in the year.
Ford met with the father’s family on Sept. 5. They have been calling on the government to enact Andrew’s Law, which would see an accused individual lose their license until a trial. It also calls for those convicted of extreme dangerous driving to face a lifelong driving ban.
The premier made his comments following the meeting.
“What their family has to go through now, and the three little girls, this is going to be lifelong for them,” he said. “I promised their family that I’m going to go through with Andrew’s Law.”
He said he agreed there should be roadside suspensions for those charged with dangerous driving.
Ontario passed legislation for tougher penalties for impaired drivers in 2024, including a lifetime license suspension for those convicted of impaired driving causing death.
Minister of Transportation Prabmeet Sarkaria said at the time that too many families in the province had their “lives torn apart” by impaired drivers.
The new laws also require anyone convicted of impaired driving to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle. They will also be required to take mandatory remedial education.
Cristillo’s wife, Christina, said her husband had a “wicked sense of humour” and lit up every room he walked into. She said he was “the life of the party, the friend everyone wanted by their side, the one who could make you smile even on your worst day.”
An online fundraiser has raised more than $500,000 for her and the girls. Christina Cristillo said she had also been battling breast cancer.
OPP previously said Kirubananthan was the same driver charged after hitting a police vehicle that Ford was travelling in on Highway 401 in January.
Two people were taken to hospital with minor injuries, police said at the time. Ford was not injured.
Chandra Philip is a news reporter with the Canadian edition of The Epoch Times.