TorontoPolice recover the wreckagefrom a minivan that was hit by a speedingBMW on Finch Ave. W. nearTobermory Dr. (Oct. 19, 2009)
DAVID COOPER/TORONTO STAR
A21-year-old man accused in a horrific weekend car crash thatkilledthree woman asked for a translator and a lawyer during hiscourtappearance Monday morning.
Proceedings were held up while thecourt summoned lawyer Michael Simrodand looked for a Russiantranslator. The Crown intended to ask for thesuspect to be denied bail.
Thesuspect, Roman Luskin, appeared in court with a bandage on hislefthand and bloody marks on the right side of his head. He walked withaslight limp. Luskin faces three counts of impaired drivingcausingdeath, three counts of criminal negligence causing death andfailure toprovide a breath sample.
Seasoned investigators were stunned bythe wreckage from the impact,which threw the three victims from theeastbound vehicle as it attemptedto turn left onto Tobermory Dr. fromFinch.
Among the dead is 44-year-old Hon To who had appeared tobe winning hertwo-year battle with bone marrow cancer. Her 24-year-olddaughter, Khan(Christine) Taing, who was helping nurse her back tohealth, was poisedto reach her goal of becoming a nurse.
Alsoejected from the minivan and pronounced dead at the scene was afemalefamily friend who was going to be dropped off before thefamilyreturned to their Driftwood Ave. apartment. To's husband, PhoTaing,survived the crash as did another passenger, a woman in her 30s,whoremains in in hospital.
They had all been returning home fromprayers at their local temple whenthe minivan was hit by a BMW with asuspected drunk driver at the wheelthat police estimate was travellingat 200 km/h in a posted 60 km/hzone. The Honda Odyssey minivan wastorn in half on impact.
Moments before the crash, the westboundBMW flew past a police cruiserheading east on Finch, said Sgt. TimBurrows of Traffic Services. Theofficers saw the crash in theirrear-view mirror.
According to the officers, Burrows said, theBMW was "out of control."The car finally stopped near a bus shelter100 metres from the impactand close to the foot of a sign warningmotorists of a pedestriancrossing ahead.
"Everything is lost,"To's grief-stricken brother-in-law, Yun Ho, saidat SunnybrookHospital, where Taing, 43, was grappling with the loss ofhis wife anddaughter while being treated for serious injuries.
"He is in a deep depression now. He keeps crying all the time. I am heartbroken for so many people," Ho said.
Things had been looking up for the family, which came to Canada from Cambodia more than 10 years ago, he said.
To, who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, had already lived beyond doctors' expectations.
"Nowshe was much better, her condition was getting better recently,"Hosaid, recalling how her husband had quit his job as a factory workertolook after her.
"She could walk slowly without help."
The couple's daughter was in her last year of nursing studies at the University of Toronto, said Ho.
"She was still young and just about to start work in her profession, almost reaching her goal and now it's all gone."
Christinewas "very sweet, very hard-working, a great girl" who spentall hertime studying, caring for her mother or working at part-timejobs topay her tuition and help support the family. They often went toanearby temple to pray with other members of the community, he said.
"They were very friendly. They would get together to pray and share their love and caring for each other."
Taingusually drove friends and family members to worship. He haddropped offanother relative at her home just before the crash, Ho said.
Ho said Taing had a broken collarbone and was experiencing chest pains. Ho shook his head in bewilderment over the tragedy.
"He (Taing) is not a drinker. He never drinks. We only drink tea and coffee."
JennyTo, one of a large group of friends and family members gathered atthehospital, said Christine was "a bit of a social butterfly."
TorontoPolice recover the wreckagefrom a minivan that was hit by a speedingBMW on Finch Ave. W. nearTobermory Dr. (Oct. 19, 2009)