Image courtesy of OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt on Twitter
Paolo Brizzi, 39, of Woodbridge, Ont., was killed in a collision at about 4:30 p.m. on the westbound collector lanes of Hwy. 401, just west of Keele St.
Rakunath Kanagaratnam, 55, has been charged with impaired driving causing death and refusing to provide a breath sample.
Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said on Sunday that it was “absolutely devastating” to the victim’s family.
“It’s unacceptable in our society. Four in the afternoon on a Saturday where we have an (alleged) impaired driver going down the highway, losing control and putting everybody at risk?,” Schmidt said in an interview. “And it’s frustrating for us to have to go and knock on a family member’s door letting them know that a loved one is dead, knowing that it’s absolutely preventable.
“People need to make better decisions and not get behind the wheel when they’ve been drinking.”
Schmidt said the accused did not suffer any injuries.
“The accused’s vehicle lost control somehow on the left, veered across all lanes, clipping into the deceased’s car, sending it sideways into the wall,” Schmidt said. “The accused then went into the right wall and came to a rest behind the deceased’s vehicle.”
Update: Driver killed in collision on #Hwy401/Keele St identified as:
Paolo BRIZZI, 39 years of age, from Woodbridge On.Rakunath KANAGARATNAM, 55 years of age is currently in custody and charged with:
Impaired Operation Causing Death
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Refusal to comply with breath demand pic.twitter.com/P6Xv1F5ZAR— Sgt Kerry Schmidt (@OPP_HSD) August 18, 2019
Source: The Toronto Star