A 37-year-old Newmarket woman is charged with impaired driving causing death in a "dramatic" and "violent" collision that resulted in the death of a 41-year-old Newmarket mother of three on Hwy. 404 at Aurora Road early this morning, Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said.
Shanshan Xia, 37, is charged with impaired driving causing death, drive over 80mg/alc in 100ml/blood causing death, dangerous driving causing death, and criminal negligence causing death.
“Speed and alcohol are both believed to be factors in this collision,” Schmidt said in a live video on Twitter.
"Absolutely tragic, frustrating and preventable," he said.
The victim was travelling in the right northbound lane just north of Aurora Road at about 2 a.m. when two vehicles collided, Schmidt said. The victim's vehicle lost control and rolled over several times. Both vehicles ended up in the ditch.
"Officers went to her residence, knocked on the door and let her loved ones know, tragically, that she is never coming home, all at the hands of an impaired driver," Schmidt said.
With the devastating accident scene behind him on the video, Schmidt spoke strongly against impaired driving and made a heartfelt appeal to viewers to make responsible decisions not to drive when impaired.
"It's one of those things that happen far too often, that officers are knocking on doors, knowing that the words they tell them will change their lives forever," he said.
"This is unbelievably frustrating, and preventable. If you are going to be drinking or impairing yourself by any means, it is your responsibility and obligation never to drive. This is exactly what we're seeing here right now, a family will grieve the loss forever ... as a result of someone's bad decision."
The accused is to appear in court this morning for a bail hearing, Schmidt said.
The highway between Aurora Road and Davis Drive was re-opened at about 10:25 a.m. following the investigation.
