Relative charged in fire pit incident near Port Burwell, Ont. that killed child, injured four more
Ontario Provincial Police have laid charges following a fire pit incident that left a one-year-old dead, and two more children and two adults injured.
The children's grandfather, Johan Hiebert, 55, of Bayham, Ont. has been charged with criminal neligence causing death and four counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.
Jake and Tina Hiebert and three of their children; a one-year-old girl, four-year-old boy, and seven-year-old girl, all suffered severe burns following a mishap during a bonfire at a home on Vienna Line near Port Burwell, Ont. on July 12.
The one-year-old girl, Layla, died in hospital three days later.
A jerry can with diesel fuel reportedly exploded, seriously injuring the family, a relative has said. Two other children were not injured.
A family friend tells CTV News London Jake is out of hospital while Tina remains in hospital but is stable. The injured children have both undergone surgeries this week for their burns and also remain in hospital.
A fundraiser for the family has raised nearly $70,000 and a trust fund has been set up for the children by the Aylmer Kindred Credit Union.
The accused is scheduled to appear in a St. Thomas, Ont. court on Sept. 7, but police say the investigation is ongoing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The lost season': Winter comes to a close as Canada's warmest on record
The warmest winter on record could have far-reaching effects on everything from wildfire season to erosion, climatologists say, while offering a preview of what the season could resemble in the not-so-distant future unless steps are taken to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
NEW High thoughts: The habits of Canadian cannabis users are revealed in a new StatCan report
Statistics Canada has conducted a series of surveys to measure the impacts of legalized cannabis since the Cannabis Act took effect in 2018. The latest one, the 2023 National Cannabis Survey, sheds light on users' preferences and habits last year.
Freddie Mercury's home is on the market for first time since 1980 minus his 'exquisite clutter'
Freddie Mercury's sanctuary in London, where he lived the last decade of his life, is on sale for the first time in nearly half a century -- minus his "exquisite clutter."
NEW Where to watch the state funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney
A state funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney will be held in Montreal on March 23. CTV News will have live special coverage of his funeral service.
Trump says Jews who vote for Democrats 'hate Israel' and their religion
Former U.S. president Donald Trump on Monday charged that Jews who vote for Democrats 'hate Israel' and hate 'their religion,' igniting a firestorm of criticism from the White House and Jewish leaders.
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.