Four teenagers were hospitalized following a serious single-vehicle crash in Whitby early Thursday morning, police say.
The collision occurred around 5:35 a.m. on Myrtle Road near Baldwin Street after a Toyota RAV4 reportedly left the roadway, rolled over and landed in a ditch.
Two occupants were ejected during the crash, including a 16-year-old girl who suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to hospital. Police said she was found nearly 100 feet from the vehicle after officers heard her calling for help.
An 18-year-old man and a 19-year-old man were taken to a Toronto-area trauma centre with serious injuries, while a 14-year-old boy sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
Investigators are still working to determine what caused the crash, and speed is being considered as a possible factor. Myrtle Road remains closed between Baldwin Street and Ashburn Road while police continue their investigation.
Update – The RAV4 driver, 18-year-old Alexander Burgi of Whitby was arrested on July 13. He now faces several charges, including dangerous and impaired operation causing bodily harm, impaired driving over the legal limit, taking a vehicle without consent, stunt driving, driving as a novice with a blood-alcohol level above zero, and operating a vehicle on a G1 licence without a qualified driver.