3 generations of women killed in Highway 400 crash on way home from Canada's Wonderland
Three generations of women were on their way home from Canada's Wonderland on Friday when they were killed in a fiery 11-vehicle crash on Highway 400 near Finch Avenue.
Five-year-old Isabela Kuci, her mother 35-year-old Valbona Vokshi, and her grandmother 55-year-old Xhemile Vokshi were pronounced dead at the scene Friday night.
Blerta Vokshi, aunt, sister and daughter to the crash victims was in another vehicle involved in the crash with 2-year-old Aron Sufa — both of them survived.
"My life will never be the same again," said Blerta in a statement read by her lawyer on Wednesday. "My mother was my biggest role model and loved this country more than anyone I know. She was in the process of obtaining her Canadian citizenship."
Blerta's statement also described her sister as someone who "always put family first" and her niece as a "beautiful person" who "brought light to all of our lives."
Five-year-old Isabela was a kindergarten student at Princess Margaret Junior School in Toronto. On Tuesday her teacher told CBC News she was "a joyful person."
"She was always happy and losing her is a little bit of laughter that's not there any more in our class," said teacher Sarah Harwood.
The family, originally from Albania, has hired Diamond and Diamond personal injury lawyers to represent them in a potential future lawsuit.
"They came to this country looking for a better life and unfortunately this happened," said lawyer Sandra Zisckind at the news conference Wednesday.
"We're not exactly sure what happened," said Zisckind, adding that until they do get definitive information from police they won't make any decisions regarding a lawsuit.
Looking to thank Good Samaritan
Blerta Vokshi and her husband Albert Sufa would also like to thank a Good Samaritan who got their two-year-old son out of their car — and harms way — after the crash, said Zisckind.
At the news conference the lawyer made a plea for help finding her on their behalf. Due to her injury from the crash, Blerta was unable to get her son out of his car seat and the woman helped her.
A fourth woman, 27-year-old Maria Lipska, with no relation to the other victims was also killed in the crash.
The collision happened when a car rear-ended a transport truck in the southbound lanes of the highway just before 10 p.m. Friday.
Police are still trying to determine the cause of the crash, but OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said investigators are focusing on the actions of one of the transport trucks involved.
He said they're trying to figure out whether the truck tried to slow down for traffic.
Anyone with information on the crash is asked to contact police at 416-235-4981.
