Advertisement

'We have no life': Grandparents grieve for 12-year-old killed in Caledon crash

Boy, 14, charged in deadly Caledon crash appears in court

The grandparents of a 12-year-old girl killed in a crash north of Toronto earlier this week said Friday that the incident has left them with "no life."

The crash happened just after 4 a.m. ET Tuesday on Hurontario Street, also known as Highway 10, north of Highpoint Side Road in Caledon, about 60 kilometres northwest of downtown Toronto.

The girl was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injures. He was later charged with:

- criminal negligence causing death

- dangerous driving causing death

- possession of stolen property worth more than $5,000

The accused, who cannot be named due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, appeared in court Friday. A bail hearing was set for August 3.

The girl's grandparents attended Friday's proceedings and spoke briefly with reporters outside the courthouse.

As the girl's grandfather burst into tears, her grandmother said she hopes "that the system would bring fair justice."

"She was an extremely special girl, and smart and intelligent and loveable and everything, and this should never happen," she said.

"She's gone but we have no life."

According to police, the car was travelling northbound when it suddenly veered left into the southbound lanes, struck a hydro pole and smashed through a fence. The vehicle, a Toyota SUV, then slammed into a brick pillar that marks the entrance to Teen Ranch Canada.

The ranch is described on its website as "a not-for-profit, inter-denominational Christian Sports Camp and Retreat Facility."

Staff at Teen Ranch told CBC News the youths involved in the crash were not from their camp.

Police are investigating whether the car was stolen, although the possession of stolen property charge indicates that they believe theft was involved and the teen is too young to drive legally.