A 42-year-old Brampton man has died from injuries sustained in a devastating two-vehicle collision in Mapleton Township that previously claimed the lives of five children, bringing the death toll from the tragedy to six.
The crash occurred on the evening of June 12 at the intersection of 4th Line and Wellington Road 12 in Wellington County. Emergency crews responded to the collision involving a passenger van and an SUV. Four children travelling in the van were pronounced dead at the scene, while a fifth child later succumbed to injuries in hospital.
Five other occupants of the van, including an infant, suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious. All ten occupants of the vehicle were residents of the Atwood area. The driver of the SUV, a Brampton resident, was transported to hospital following the collision and died from his injuries on Friday.
The five children who lost their lives were identified as members of the Doerksen family. Peter, 12, Helena, 10, Sara, 8, Maggie, 6, and Susy, 4, were remembered during a funeral service held Saturday, followed by interment in Milverton, Ontario. Family members, friends and members of the wider community gathered to pay their respects and offer support to those left behind.
In the days following the tragedy, communities across the region have rallied around the affected families. Fundraising efforts have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars to assist with expenses and provide support during an unimaginably difficult time. Local residents have also come together by offering meals, transportation, prayers and other forms of assistance to grieving family members.
Community leaders described the loss as deeply felt throughout the region, emphasizing the importance of coming together in times of tragedy and acknowledging that the grieving process will be long and different for everyone affected. Floral tributes have been placed near the crash site as residents continue to mourn the young lives lost.
The investigation into the collision remains ongoing. The Wellington County OPP Crime Unit, under the direction of the Criminal Investigation Branch, is leading the investigation with assistance from the Office of the Chief Coroner, the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, forensic identification specialists and traffic investigators.
Police are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision or who may have dashcam footage from the area to come forward as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding one of Ontario’s most heartbreaking tragedies in recent years.