A Canadian community is mourning the death of an 18-month-old boy killed at a day care center after a car crashed into the building. The horrific accident occurred around 3 p.m. at First Roots Early Education Academy in Richmond Hills, Ontario. Nearly 100 children and staff were reportedly inside at the time of the crash. Police arrested 70-year-old Vinay Kumar Gupta at the scene, and he faces charges related to the fatal accident.
Constable Kevin Nebrija spoke to the media, sharing details of the deadly crash. Gupta allegedly drove his electric Hyundai SUV into the side of the building at First Roots. The car crashed through the drywall and into the childcare center, Nebrija said. His car reportedly struck three staff members and seven children inside multiple rooms. One child died, and another remains in critical condition.
Nebrija confirmed Gupta’s arrest and said that although the accident remains under investigation, it did not appear intentional.
“As you can imagine, this was a very chaotic scene. I can tell you that the initial information suggests the vehicle was in the parking lot at the time, and for reasons unknown, drove through the front of the window,” he said during the media conference. “We can appreciate that this is a very alarming call for parents to receive and to attend at the end of their day.”
First Roots Early Education Academy shared a statement on September 11 regarding the shocking accident.
“We are devastated and still processing what happened, but our foremost and only priority is supporting our families and staff members. We wish to share our gratitude for the outpouring of support and sympathy and want to thank the Emergency Services personnel who assisted the affected children and their families, as well as our staff members,” the statement reads in part.
First Roots asked for privacy and time to “grieve and recover in this unimaginably difficult time.”
York Regional Police Chief Jim MacSween echoed the center’s thoughts in a post on X.
“My thoughts are with the children, employees and families impacted by this devastating incident. No family should have to deal with a tragedy like this. @YRP will continue to investigate this incident and provide support to the victims and to the responding officers,” he wrote.
Gupta has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm. Per court documents obtained by the Toronto Sun, Gupta posted a $25,000 bond. He must remain inside a home in Richmond Hill, not far from the accident scene.
