People killed in Highway 401 wrong way crash in Whitby identified

The grandparents of a three-month-old baby, who all died in a horrific crash on Monday night on Highway 401 in Whitby, were identified in a post by the Indian Consulate General, early Friday night, on social media.

The 60-year-old man, his 55-year-old wife and the grandson were killed in a head-on collision when police chased a robbery suspect going the wrong way on Highway 401.

The grandparents, according to the Special Investigations Unit, were here from India visiting their grandson.

“Heartfelt condolences on tragic loss of Indian national Mr. Manivannan, Mrs. Mahalakshmi & and their grandchild in the Highway 401 collision,” said the Indian Consulate’s post on X. “CG met the bereaved family at the hospital & assured all possible assistance.

“We are in touch with Canadian authorities.”

The parents, a 33-year-old father and 27-year-old mother, who were also in the Nissan Sentra, survived the crash and were both taken to hospital, according to a police release. The mother is being treated for “serious injuries, while the father had minor injuries.

The collision occurred when a U-Haul cube van driven by a 21-year-old driver was being chased by Durham Regional Police going westbound in the eastbound lanes on the 401 after a robbery at a Bowmanville LCBO.

The head-on collision involved at least six vehicles, including a semi-trailer.

The driver of the cube van also died in the head-on collision, while the other occupant of the vehicle suffered serious injuries.