A nine-year-old Hamilton boy killed in Monday’s single-vehicle rollover crash on the QEW in Oakville is being remembered as “joyful, vibrant, adventurous, and courageous.”
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In a GoFundMe arranged by Damian Maracle’s aunt, Jennifer Court, she writes that he was “the sweetest boy with a heart of gold. His absence leaves an irreplaceable void in our lives. The family is grappling with grief and loss that no words can truly capture.”
Damian died when the pickup he was in crashed on the westbound QEW at Bronte Road at around 2 a.m.
He suffered critical injuries and later died in hospital.
The OPP said the boy’s 38-year-old father was driving him and a 28-year-old male family member home from a fishing trip when the truck left the highway, flipped over several times and ended up in a ditch. The boy was ejected.
Police were investigating if fatigue played a role in the crash. The boy’s dad is still in hospital with serious injuries.
The second family member was not injured.
“The potential lack of seatbelt use is being investigated as a contributing factor” to the injuries sustained by the two victims, OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said Monday.
“Damien was taken from us way too early,” Court wrote in the GoFundMe, which had surpassed $29,000 as of noon Thursday.
“In (Damien’s) memory, we are reaching out to our community to offer support during this challenging time. As we navigate through the emotional turmoil that comes with such a tragedy, your contributions will go a long way. We’re so thankful to everybody who came together. It means so much to us.”