IN MEMORY of the late Valdemar Avila, 71, and his wife of 48-years, Fatima. Family photo.
A Burlington man is behind bars in connection with a fatal car crash on Parkside Drive in which an elderly loving couple were killed.
Police were called on October 12 at 4:40 p.m. to investigate a personal injury collision which involved five vehicles in the Parkside Drove and Spring Road area.
FLOWERS left roadside to remember the loving couple who had been married for almost 50 years. Courtesy photo.
“A 38-year-old man was driving a 2013 BMW southbound on Parkside at Spring Rod at a high rate of speed,” according to police. “The BMW collided with a 2003 Toyota Matrix vehicle which created a chain reaction with three other vehicles.”
Members of Traffic Services Unit said a 71-year-old man driving the Toyota Matrix was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The passenger in the Matrix, a 69-year-old-woman was taken to hospital where she succumbed to her injuries,” Traffic Services said in a release.
ONE OF vehicles involved in the double fatal crash on Parkside Drive. Courtesy photo.
The driver of the BMW was taken to hospital with no- life-threatening injuries.
The couple, identified as Valdemar Avila, 71, a roofer, and his wife of 48-years, Fatima, 69, were driving to a local Costco to refill a prescription when they were involved in the chain-reaction crash.
The Avilas, according to Global News, lived over a Dundas Street West beauty salon where Fatima worked for 30 years.
“I know that my father-in-law was a very religious man and he would want to forgive him, even though what happened is tragic. You have to forgive in your heart,” a family member told Global News.
POLICE investigating the deadly scene at Parkside Drive and Spring Road.
The couple were laid to rest at St. Helen’s Roman Catholic Church, in the heart of Little Portugal where the couple was well known.
“They loved going for walks. People here in Little Portugal, they know them for their walks,” the family member said, adding they walked for an hour daily.
The couple, it is reported, lived for their two grandchildren whom they adored.
Artur Kotula, 38, of Burlington, is charged with two counts of criminal negligence causing death.
He appeared before an Old City Hall court on November 19.
Media reports state that the suspect has no immigration status in Canada and had an suspended licence.
Police said their investigation is still ongoing.
Toronto city council has since approved a motion to reduce the speed limit along Parkside Drive from 50 to 40 km/h along with other traffic calming measures.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1900, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, online on our Facebook Leave a Tip page, or text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637). Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes or Google Play.