Anger Reigns At Funeral For Accident Victim, As Two Brothers Accused In A Fatal Crash Make Bail

Steve and Brian Machado walked out of a Brampton courtroom on Friday and straight into a waiting car. But they weren’t going to be driving it. The two brothers have been banned from getting behind the wheel after a devastating accident on  Highway 50 last Saturday resulted in a seven-car pile-up and left two women dead.

The brothers, the first 22, the other 27, are suspected of being involved in a possible street race that caused the crash. Although neither is charged with that offence, they are facing allegations of criminal negligence causing death. They were set free on $100,000 bond and remain under house arrest.

The release has led to outrage from the friends and families of the victims, Maria-Rosa Dalsass and Cynthia Dougherty. They can’t understand how two people accused of such a heinous crime can be allowed to go home. “It sends the wrong signal, absolutely,” complains one angry mourner who attended the funeral for Dalsass at around the same time the siblings were set free.

“Maybe they should be here,” suggests another.

At least one had a more charitable attitude towards the duo. “We’ve prayed for these people. I don’t know if that’s forgiveness, but I know that that’s hope.”

But the lawyer for the pair reminds they haven’t been found guilty of anything and they have to be treated like any other accused in our system. “It was the right thing to do,” assures attorney Peter Brauti about their release. “They have no criminal records and they’re presumed to be innocent and they should be granted bail.”

Cops admit they haven’t laid the new street racing charges against the brothers, but their probe is far from over. “We have to wait for all the facts,” Brauti reminds. “The matter is still being investigated, so even the investigation is not complete.”

But for the people at their funerals, it was a difficult irony to watch the Machados go home, knowing the victims will never get to follow them. Dougherty was laid to rest on Wednesday. Dalsass, a  teacher at Dante Alighieri Academy, was well liked by the staff and students there. Many of them made their way to Bolton on Friday for a tear-filled goodbye to the 44-year-old educator.

“She was one of the greatest teachers in our school,” one student recalled.

“She was a tough lady,” adds another. “She was demanding, but she was passionate … about the kids. She cared.”

“She was an exceptional teacher,” agrees a third. “She was a good friend, and she inspired everyone, everyone that knew her.”

Other words frequently heard: ‘kind,’ ‘funny’ and ‘great sense of humour.’

Students who couldn’t attend paid their own kind of tribute on a Facebook page, replete with copious anecdotes, remembrances and pictures.

The brothers who police allege caused all this misery won’t be away from the justice system for long. They’re due back in court on October 30th.

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