TORONTO — The mother of three children killed in a tragic crash in Vaughan in September says she was happily surprised to discover a Christmas tree planted at the site of the fatal collision.
Daniel Neville-Lake, 9, his brother Harrison, 5, their sister Milly, 2, and the children’s 65-year-old grandfather Gary Neville died after the minivan they were in was struck by another vehicle at the intersection of Kipling Avenue and Kirby Road northeast of Kleinburg on the afternoon of Sept. 27.
“We went to the crash site today and found this beautiful Christmas tree,” the children’s mother, Jennifer Neville-Lake, wrote in a Facebook post Sunday. “Thank you for thinking of our family.”
Neville-Lake had previously planted her own Christmas tree at the children’s grave sites, but had replaced it with a gingerbread house flower pot over the weekend.
“The kids loved to make gingerbread houses. So we decided to bring them one,” she said on Facebook.
“These plants won’t last forever so we are going to swap it out and put the tree back soon. Don’t our flowers look beautiful? Those are from our children’s amazing friends and my incredible coworkers.”
READ MORE: Marco Muzzo court case delayed until December
Two other occupants in the minivan, the children’s grandmother and great-grandmother, both survived the crash but suffered serious injuries.
Twenty-nine-year-old Marco Muzzo, of King Township, Ont., faces a dozen impaired-driving offences and six charges related to the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle in connection with the deadly crash. His next court appearance will be on Dec. 10.
Global News has also learned Muzzo has been placed in solitary confinement while in custody for his protection.
READ MORE: New court date set for Marco Muzzo following video appearance
“For us, it’s almost heartening to see him in that jumpsuit and nobody else can get hurt,” Neville-Lake said on Nov. 26 after numerous delays in Muzzo’s court proceedings.
“It’s getting harder and harder … Even physically … I had no idea you could get some physical ailments from stress.”
The Neville-Lake family had previously promised to attend each court session involved in the case.
With files from David Shum
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