4 Chinese teens among 5 people killed in Canada crash

Five people — four teenagers and a 42-year-old woman — were killed in a two-vehicle crash in Huntsville, Canada, on Saturday, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

The teenagers were from the Greater Toronto Area were between the ages of 15 to 17 and have been identified as Chinese students. The woman from Huntsville was identified as Jessica Lynn Ward, a mother of two.

Police received the call around 11:10 pm for the crash on Highway 60 near Hidden Valley Road, seven kilometres from Huntsville. Three of the four teenage victims and the woman died at the scene, and one of the teenagers died in the hospital, according to OPP.

The teenagers were heading west in a Mercedes SUV, while the woman was traveling east in a Ford SUV. The highway was closed for several hours while police investigated.

Police haven't yet revealed the cause of the collision or the identities of the teenage victims. They are still investigating the incident and asking anyone with footage of the collision to contact the OPP in Huntsville.

The Chinese Embassy in Canada and the Chinese Consulate General in Toronto immediately activated the emergency response mechanism, according to a statement from the Chinese consulate on Monday.

The consulate verified the situation with the OPP at the earliest opportunity and has established contact with the relatives of the international students.

The Chinese Ambassador to Canada Cong Peiwu and Consul General Luo Weidong in Toronto have expressed their condolences to the families of the victims.

The consulate is closely monitoring the situation and making every effort to handle subsequent matters properly. It also reminded students in Canada to pay attention to traffic safety.

renali@chinadailyusa.com