The families involved in a collision in Mapleton Township that resulted in the deaths of five young children have hired a personal injury law firm. A SUV collided with a van at the intersection of 4th Line and Wellington Road 12, north of Kitchener, Ont., on June 12. Of the 10 people in the van, eight were members of the Doerksen family. Five of their children were killed: 12-year-old Peter, 10-year-old Helena, 8-year-old Sara, 6-year-old Maggie and 4-year-old Susy. Their parents and 15-month-old brother were also hurt in the crash, along with fellow passengers Peter and Elisabeth Bartsch. The Doerksen and Bartsch families have now retained the services of Greg Monforton & Partners. The Windsor, Ont. firm announced the move on July 23 in a post on their website. “The collision is believed to have occurred when an SUV failed to obey a stop sign and struck the victims’ vehicle,” the statement said. The driver of the SUV, a 42-year-old man from Brampton, died in hospital from his injuries. CTV News reached out Ontario Provincial Police for comment. “The investigation into this collision remains ongoing,” said an email from Sgt. Ed Sanchuk. The cause of the crash not been released. “Losing a single child is every parent’s worst nightmare,” said Joanna Sweet, the law firm’s managing partner. “To lose five in one instant is a tragedy beyond words. The survivors need answers, and we are committed to determining exactly how this horrific crash happened.” The lawyer also asked anyone with information to reach out to her team at 519-258-6490. “The surviving victims and their families have asked for privacy as they grieve,” the statement continued, adding that anyone trying to contact the families should instead reach out to Sweet.
