A funeral was held for a mother and her three young daughters killed in a multi-vehicle collision in Brampton, Ont., one week ago.
The funeral for 36-year-old Karolina Ciasullo, and her daughters, Klara, Lilianna and Mila, took place Thursday afternoon at the St. Eugene de Mazenod Catholic Church in Brampton. The mother and daughters leave behind husband and father, Michael Ciasullo.
“They were like magnets to each other,” said Karolina’s sister-in-law, Connie Ciasullo, who read the eulogy on behalf of the family. “And love lived at Michael and Karolina’s home.”
“Karolina was very much Michael’s rock and his north star. She was the glue that held everything together,” Connie said.
“Despite the pain and heartache that we feel, we were blessed to have had these beautiful souls in our life,” she continued. “And while we will never know why these young, beautiful lives we’re taken from this Earth so soon, we do know that they will never be taken from our hearts, or our minds or our prayers.”
Father Wojciech Stangel told Global News Karolina married her husband, Michael, at the church where the funeral took place, and their three daughters were also baptized there.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, space at the funeral mass was reserved for family and close friends by invitation only, according to organizers. Speakers provided audio outside the church for those without a reserved space, organizers said.
On June 18, at around 12:16 p.m., emergency crews were called to the intersection of Torbram Road and Countryside Drive in Brampton’s north end for reports of a serious collision.
One of the daughters was pronounced dead at the scene, and the mother and other two daughters were rushed to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Shortly after, they all died in hospital.
Ontario’s police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU), is also investigating, as a Caledon OPP officer had “observed” the Infiniti G35 just before it collided with the Volkswagen Atlas SUV with Karolina and her daughters inside.
The SIU is an independent agency that investigates the conduct of officers involved in incidents where death or serious injury has occurred.
“Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop but due to the speed and manner of which he was driving, the decision was made not to pursue the vehicle,” said a statement by Peel Regional Police on Thursday.
Police said the impact of the crash forced the Atlas into a light pole. The Infiniti then crashed into a Honda stopped at a red light.
The driver of the Infiniti, a man in his 20s, was also taken to hospital with serious injuries.
According to court records obtained by Global News on Thursday, 20-year-old Brady Robertson was charged with four counts of dangerous operation causing death under Section 320.13 (3) of the criminal code.
The maximum sentence is life in prison.
Robertson was remanded into custody until July 23 when he will appear in court for a bail hearing.
Court documents also showed Robertson had prior convictions for driving while suspended, careless driving and driving without a licence.
In December 2018, he also pleaded guilty to threatening to damage property and possession of an unauthorized firearm. For those offences he was given a conditional discharge, a weapons prohibitions, a year-long probation and a $100 fine.
Karolina, a Caledon resident, was a Grade 4 teacher at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Elementary School, with the Dufferin Peel Catholic School Board.
Ciasullo’s daughters, Klara, Lilianna and Mila, were aged six, three and one.
“If I could close with a plea, it is this, love fiercely. If we could live every day knowing that we could lose someone at any moment, we would love that person fiercely. So please, make that call, forgive that mistake, say those words, hold the hand, cherish that smile, hug those shoulders and kiss those cheeks,” said Connie.
“You really don’t know when everything will be taken from you in an instant, and you will not have that privilege.”
“Rest in peace with the angels, Karolina, Klara, Lilianna and Mila.”
As of Thursday afternoon, just under $400,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe for the family.
— With files from Catherine McDonald and Nick Westoll.