A 34-year-old Chatham man is facing impaired driving charges after a fatal single-vehicle crash in Chatham-Kent that claimed the life of a 7-year-old girl.
Chatham-Kent police said the man was driving with his girlfriend's three children at around 9 p.m. Monday when he lost control of the vehicle on Jacob Road near Given Line and ended up crashing into a water-filled ditch.
Officers said the vehicle came to a rest upside down in the ditch, adding that the man was able to save two of the three children who were in the vehicle at the time.
Investigators said volunteer firefighters went into the water and were able to remove the third child. All three children were rushed to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance for medical attention.
A 4-year-old girl was later air-lifted to a London hospital via Ornge air ambulance and an 11-year-old boy* was transferred to a London hospital via ground ambulance.
However, despite life-saving efforts, a 7-year-old girl was pronounced deceased in Chatham.
Officers who arrived at the scene believed the man had been driving under the influence of alcohol, so he was arrested and taken back to police headquarters for breath tests.
As a result of the investigation, a 34-year-old Chatham man was charged with impaired driving causing death, criminal negligence causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and two counts of driving while under suspension. He has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Police said they will not be releasing the name of the accused to protect the identity of the children -- they are also offering their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased girl.
The incident is still under investigation by the Chatham-Kent Police Service's Traffic Unit. Anyone with information, is asked to contact Constable Dan Carroll at dancar@chatham-kent.ca or 519-355-1092.
*The original report from Chatham-Kent police indicated that an "11-year-old girl" was involved in the crash, but a follow-up correction from police has corrected that information to an "11-year-old boy"
