Man charged after child dies in crash

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Shortly after 9 p.m. last night, Chatham-Kent emergency crews responded to a single motor-vehicle collision on Jacob Road near Given Line.

Through investigation, police learned that a man was driving with his girlfriend’s three children when he lost control of his vehicle, left the roadway and came to rest upside down in a water filled ditch. 

The man was able to save two of the three children. 

Volunteer fire fighters entered the water to remove the third child. 

All three children were transported to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance for medical attention. The four-year-old girl was air-lifted via Ornge to a hospital in London. The 11-year-old boy was transported via ground ambulance to a London hospital.

Despite life-saving efforts, the seven-year-old girl was pronounced deceased in Chatham.   

While on scene, officers believed the man was driving while under the influence of alcohol and he was arrested. The man was transported to police headquarters for breath tests.

A 34-year-old Chatham man has been charged with impaired driving causing death, criminal negligence causing death, impaired driving causing bodily harm, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and two counts of driving while under suspension. He has been held in custody pending a bail hearing.

Police say they will not be releasing the name of the accused to protect the identity of the children. 

The Traffic Unit has taken over the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Const. Dan Carroll at dancar@chatham-kent.ca or 519-355-1092. 

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