Brampton, ON — Peel Regional Police say the body of a 20-year-old woman who died in a weekend crash in Brampton was not discovered until hours later, after her family reported her missing and investigators returned to examine a vehicle already towed from the scene.
The fatal collision occurred around 4:20 a.m. on November 1 near Chinguacousy Road and Queen Street, involving two vehicles. When first responders arrived, they located only one victim — a 31-year-old male driver inside a heavily damaged Honda Civic. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Const. Tyler Bell-Morena, Brampton Fire and Emergency Services extricated the driver, and both vehicles were processed and transported to the police impound yard for further analysis. At the time, there was “no immediate or clear indication of a passenger” in the vehicle.
It wasn’t until later that day that the woman’s family reported her missing. Using a shared tracking app, relatives discovered her last known location was at the crash site. This prompted officers to revisit both the scene and the impound lot.
Upon a closer inspection of the crumpled rear passenger area of the Honda Civic, investigators discovered the woman’s remains embedded deep within the wreckage. Fire crews were called back to the impound yard to assist with the complex extrication using specialized equipment.
Police have since identified the victim as a 20-year-old Brampton woman, though her name has not been released.
“We recognize the profound impact of this tragedy,” Const. Bell-Morena said, adding that police will conduct a joint debrief with emergency partners to review the circumstances that led to the delayed discovery. “Our thoughts remain with the families and all those affected.”
The driver of the second vehicle — a youth who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act — has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and failure or refusal to comply with demand.
The investigation remains ongoing. Police are asking anyone with information or dashcam footage from the area to contact investigators or reach out to Crime Stoppers anonymously.