Peel school board ‘deeply saddened’ after current, former students killed in crash

1:56 ‘Heartbreaking tragedy’: 4 GTA teens killed, 2 injured in Puslinch, Ont., crash 

The Peel District School Board says it’s “deeply saddened” after four young people, three of whom had ties to the school district, died when the car they were travelling in fell into a ravine in Puslinch, Ont., just outside Guelph.

The school board in the region west of Toronto says one current and two former students were among those who died in the single-vehicle crash over the weekend.

Ontario Provincial Police said at a news conference Sunday they’re investigating if a lack of seatbelts contributed to the fatal crash, which also injured two others.

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The OPP said six young people from the Greater Toronto Area were travelling along Watson Road South early Saturday when the car left the road, struck a guardrail and careened into a ravine.

Police said a 17-year-old girl from Mississauga, a 15-year-old girl from Milton and two 19-year-old men hailing from Mississauga and Brampton died in the crash.

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Police said Sunday that a 17-year-old girl from Mississauga remained in hospital with life-altering injuries after the crash, while a 16-year-old from Mississauga sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The school board extended its condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and says it is providing support to students, families and staff impacted by the incident.

Given the ongoing investigation, the board says it will not comment on the matter further.

Police said investigators believe the vehicle that crashed did not have enough seatbelts for all six occupants, but police were also probing if speed was a factor.