A photo shared by his family shows Andrew Cristillo (left) with his wife and three daughters. Cristillo died in a head-on crash. CTV News
An 18-year-old facing charges in a crash that killed a father of three will stay in custody for at least two more days. The judge is deciding whether to grant bail.
Jaiwin Kirubananthan appeared in court wearing a white shirt. He sat behind glass, sometimes resting his head in his hands. About eight family members attended. He mouthed “thank you” to them during the hearing.
Also present were relatives of 35-year-old Andrew Cristillo, the man who died in the collision on August 3. His three young daughters suffered serious injuries.
The Deadly Collision
Cristillo’s family says they were driving home from his parents’ house along Highway 48 near Aurora Road. A vehicle struck them head-on. Cristillo died instantly. His daughters, Leah, 7, Chloe, 6, and Ella, 4, were badly hurt.
The OPP says Kirubananthan fled after the crash. The tragedy hit harder because Cristillo’s wife, Christina, is battling advanced breast cancer.
Previous Charges Involving the Premier’s Car
Just months earlier, in January, police accused Kirubananthan of dangerous driving in a separate crash. That collision involved an OPP cruiser carrying Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Court documents show he likely received a 30-day driving ban for stunt driving in that incident. But police issued him a notice to appear in court rather than arrest him for the dangerous driving charge. That allowed him to keep driving until his trial set for December.
Debate Over Legal Process
Defence lawyer Joseph Neuberger, not involved in the case, said the police decision followed standard practice for dangerous driving cases without injury or death. He explained that immediate restrictions might be unconstitutional without a conviction.
However, road safety advocate Jess Spieker argued that such drivers should face immediate suspensions. “Why on earth do we allow them to continue driving?” she asked. She said cases like this show how preventable such tragedies are.
Government Response
Ontario’s Solicitor General, Michael Kerzner, commented on the matter. “If people can’t live within the law, they belong in one place and that’s jail,” he said.
Bail Decision Expected Friday
The bail hearing lasted around seven hours. The judge will announce her decision on Friday, including any conditions if bail is granted.
Community Support for the Cristillo Family
A fundraiser for the family has raised over $400,000. Messages describe Cristillo as “full of life” and promise continued support for “Andrew’s girls.”
