The driver of the van in Monday’s horrific crash in Hampstead, Ont., ran a stop sign and did not have the proper driver’s licence, Ontario Provincial Police said Wednesday.
"This crash did not have to happen," Chief Supt. John Cain said at a news conference in London. "These lives need not have been lost."
Sixteen workers had just finished a shift vaccinating chickens at a nearby poultry farm when 13 people piled into one van and three left in another vehicle.
The 15-passenger van was headed west on Line 47, when it went through a stop sign at Perth Road 107 and into the path of a southbound freightliner straight truck.
What’s more, the 45-year-old van driver, David Armando Blancas-Hernandez, did not have an F-class licence — required to operate any vehicle that can hold more than 11 passengers.
Investigators are also looking at other factors, including mechanical fitness and sight lines at the intersection, to fully determine what happened, provincial police Insp. Scott Lawson said.
The OPP also released the names of the victims — 10 migrant workers from Peru and the driver of the truck that broadsided the van. (Scroll down to see the list).
Three people in the van survived. One is in critical condition; one is in serious condition; and one is in fair condition.
The Ministry of Labour released a statement Wednesday saying the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board will cover all costs for the injured workers and their families, including flying them back to Peru.
The mayor of East Perth, Ian Forrest, said Tuesday a trust fund was being established at
CIBC with donations going to Perth County Victims Services and the families of
the crash victims.
A fund has also been set up by UFCW Canada and the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA) to assist the families of the victims.
Donations to the Migrant Workers Family Support Fund can be made through PayPal at www.ufcw.ca/familysupportfund.
Donations can also be made through the donor's preferred financial institution by direct transfer to the fund's account:
The Migrant Workers Family Support Fund
TD Canada Trust
Account # 5221618
Transit # 1864
On Friday evening, a prayer service will be held evening for the victims.
The non-denominational service organized by the Diocese of London is scheduled for 7 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Stratford.
The diocese said the service is for crash victims and their families, as well as to recognize emergency personnel.
Names of victims:
David Armando Blancas-Hernandez, 45 (van driver)
Jose Mercedes Valdiviezo-Taboa, 49
Cesar Augusto Sanchez-Palacios, 53
Enrique Arturo Leon, 47
Corsino Jaramillo, 47
Mario Abril, 48
Oscar Compomanes-Corzo, age unknown
Juan Castillo, age unknown
Elvio Bravo-Suncion, age unknown
Fernando Correa, age unknown
Christopher Fulton, 38 (truck driver)
Injured:
Edgar Sulla-Puma, 26
Juan Ariza, 35
Abelardo Alba-Medina, 38
With files from The Canadian Press