Five children killed in Ontario collision near Kitchener

Five children were killed and several others were seriously injured in a two-vehicle collision in rural Ontario on Friday evening. The crash occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of Fourth Line and Wellington Road 12 in Mapleton Township, northwest of Kitchener.

Ontario Provincial Police Superintendent Dwight Thib confirmed during a news conference on Saturday that the five children who died were all related. They were four girls and one boy, ranging in age from four to 12 years old. They were passengers in a van that collided with a sport utility vehicle.

The van was carrying nine occupants, all of whom were family members. In addition to the five deceased children, the passengers included four adults and a five-month-old infant, all of whom sustained serious injuries and remain hospitalized. The male driver of the SUV was also transported to a hospital with serious injuries. Police said at least three patients were airlifted to trauma centres, while others were taken to local hospitals.

Superintendent Thib stated that a number of the children were pronounced dead at the scene, while at least one was pronounced deceased later. He described the intersection as...