Police in Ontario’s York region say that a fire broke out in a vehicle that was involved in the crash that killed three children and their grandfather earlier this week.
York Regional Police confirmed Thursday that a fire started Monday evening, in the front grill of the Jeep as it sat parked at police headquarters, where it was being held as evidence.
Firefighters responded and the “minor electrical” fire was quickly extinguished, police say.
“The integrity of the evidence was not compromised,” York Regional Police Const. Andy Pattenden said in a statement.
The vehicle has since been moved to an undisclosed place where it will be stored until court proceedings have concluded.
The fire came less than 24 hours after police say the Jeep ran a stop sign and plowed into a minivan with three children and three adults aboard.
All three children -- nine-year-old Daniel Neville-Lake, his five-year-old brother Harrison, and their two-year-old sister Milly -- died from their injuries. Their 65-year-old grandfather was pronounced dead at the scene.
The children's grandmother and great-grandmother were injured, but are expected to survive.
Marco Michael Muzzo, 29, is facing 18 charges as a result of the crash, including driving with a blood-alcohol level of over 80 (more than 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood) causing death. He is set to appear for a bail hearing on Friday.
A candlelight vigil for the Neville-Lake family was held Thursday night, at the St. Padre Pio church in Vaughan. Another vigil was held at a Brampton park.
Thousands have already donated to an online fundraiser in the names of the four victims.
In a statement released this week, Muzzo's mother has said her family is "greatly saddened" by the tragedy and send their deepest sympathy and condolences to those affected.
With reports from The Canadian Press
