Five Children Killed, Six Others Injured in Mapleton Township Collision

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a devastating collision that claimed the lives of five children Friday evening. Several others remain in hospital as investigators continue to determine what happened.

Five children have died and six other people remain in hospital following a two-vehicle collision Friday evening in Mapleton Township, according to Ontario Provincial Police.

Police said the crash happened around 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of 4th Line and Wellington Road 12, approximately 35 kilometres northwest of Kitchener-Waterloo.

According to OPP West Region Commander Dwight Thib, 11 people were involved in the collision. Police said a passenger van carrying 10 people and a sport utility vehicle with one occupant collided at the intersection.

The five children who died were four girls and one boy, ranging in age from four to 12 years old. Police confirmed the children were all related.

“This is an unimaginable loss,” Thib said while offering condolences on behalf of the Ontario Provincial Police to the families, loved ones and community affected by the tragedy.

An infant and four adults who were travelling in the van were seriously injured, along with the driver of the SUV. All six were taken to hospital.

The OPP Traffic Incident Management Enforcement team is assisting with the investigation. Police said the intersection would remain closed for much of Saturday while investigators continued their work.

No further details have been released as the investigation remains ongoing.