Man charged in fatal car crash in Vaughan

Sep 28, 2015 | News

By Christina McAllister, Christine Tippett, Amanda Tuzi and Nicole Williams

A bail hearing has been set for the 29-year-old man accused of impaired driving that resulted in the death of three young children and their grandfather.

Marco Muzzo, of King Township Ont., appeared in a Newmarket Court this morning and is being held until his bail hearing Friday. Muzzo is facing 18 charges, including four counts of impaired driving causing death.

The accused was escorted into the courtroom, handcuffed, and sat in the prisoner’s box wearing a black T-shirt and dark jeans. Muzzo kept his head down throughout the hearing except when being addressed by the judge and to look at four women at the back of the courtroom.

After court was adjourned, the four women were escorted by police to a white Range Rover and sped off.

Muzzo’s lawyer, Rudy Covre, declined to comment on the details of the case but said they will contest bail and vigorously defend the charges.

“I’m not going to tell you what he said to me,” Covre said. “It’s a tough go right now for him as I’m sure you can appreciate. Twenty-four hours hasn’t even passed so we still have a long road to hoe.”

The crash occurred around 4:10 p.m. in Vaughan at the intersection of Kipling Ave. and Kirby Rd., when police say a car T-boned a van carrying a family of six.

The victims of the crash include nine-year-old Daniel Neville-Lake and 65-year-old Gary Neville who died on Sunday. The two other children, five-year-old Harry Neville-Lake and two-year-old Millie Neville-Lake were taken off life support early Monday morning.

Two other women, the children’s grandmother and great-grandmother, were taken to hospital and remain in stable condition.

Local resident, Zabi Akbari, was first on the scene of the crash. When he called 9-1-1 he was asked by police to see if the passengers of the vehicle were alive. According to Akbari, it was clear one of the children and the grandfather were dead.

According to York Regional Police, Muzzo is charged with:

  • four counts of impaired driving causing death
  • four counts of over 80 causing death
  • four counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death
  • two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm
  • two counts of over 80 causing bodily harm
  • two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm

A crowdfunding page has been set up to raise proceeds for the Neville-Lake family. As of Monday afternoon more than $50,000 has been raised.