Five children from a single family died following a two-vehicle collision at a rural intersection in Mapleton Township, Ontario, on Friday evening.
The crash occurred around 7:30 p.m. at Wellington Road 12 and Fourth Line. Investigators say a passenger van carrying ten people collided with an SUV carrying one person.
The victims, aged four, six, eight, ten, and twelve, were siblings. Their sister, Nancy Doerksen, said the family’s grief is beyond words. She identified the children in a family photograph taken just two weeks prior at her wedding.
The children’s mother remains hospitalized with severe injuries, while the father and an infant brother are recovering at home. Two family friends in the van were also injured.
A crowdfunding effort has raised over $250,000 to cover funeral costs and financial support. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Doug Ford offered public condolences, while local officials praised first responders for their professionalism under challenging circumstances.
The Ontario Provincial Police have not determined a cause but launched a concurrent intersection safety campaign titled 'Stop, Look, Live,' citing that intersection collisions caused 13 deaths in the region in 2025.