A 45-year-old Toronto man is charged with impaired operation and other driving-related offences after two collisions, one of which resulted in injuries to a nine-year-old child at a playground in in Markham.
York Regional Police responded to a report of a child who had been injured after a a black Mitsubishi SUV drove onto a school playground on Becket Avenue Sunday, May 14, at 8:35 p.m., police said in a news release. The vehicle reportedly drove onto the property at a high rate of speed and crashed through a gate, striking the child.
The suspect then left the scene and driving around the property at a high rate of speed, police added.
The child was treated for minor injuries by York Region Paramedic Services and taken to hospital as a precaution.
At 9:05 p.m., York Regional Police received another call about the same suspect vehicle that reportedly had struck a tree on the lawn of a house on Winston Castle Drive in Markham. First responders found a male driver unconscious behind the wheel, with the engine revving, police said.
The vehicle had extensive damage and the driver was extracted, taken into custody and brought to hospital, police said.
Gffrizio Murriel is charged with fail to stop after accident, dangerous operation and impaired operation – 80 plus, police said.
Under Ontario law, anyone charged with impaired driving has their driver’s licence immediately suspended for 90 days and the involved vehicle is impounded for seven days.
If you see an impaired driver, call 911 immediately, police said.
"Day and night, our officers are patrolling the roads, conducting spot checks and are available to respond. Working together, we can make our roads safer."
Information can be provided to the York Regional Police by calling 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7541, or anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or going online.
