Man charged for fleeing scene of fatal crash that killed woman, 73, in Vaughan
A man that walked away from a two-vehicle car crash in Vaughan that took the life of a 73-year-old woman was arrested and is facing charges nine months later.
The collision occurred on September 30, 2022, on Highway 400 near Rutherford Road.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said several witnesses reported seeing a red Volkswagen Jetta travelling at a high rate of speed at around 3 a.m. that morning when it rear-ended a minivan carrying four people.
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Those three people suffered only minor injuries, but a 73-year-old woman from North York was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fatal collision #Hwy400/Rutherfoed Rd.
73 yr female from North York pronounced deceased at the scene, three others to hospital with minor injuries. #AuroraOPP asking for the driver of the red VW to call a lawyer and turn themself in. Investigators following up on tips now. pic.twitter.com/ysxzplACKU— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) September 30, 2022
OPP said the driver of the red Volkswagen Jetta was seen walking away from the crash. He was asked to turn himself in, and on October 5, 2022, the male driver was identified as 31-year-old Michael Okoake of Richmond Hill with a warrant out for his arrest.
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OPP said Okoake was taken into custody on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
He’s facing several charges, including dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm, failing to stop at an accident resulting in death and bodily harm, failing to comply with a release order, public mischief and drug possession for the purpose of trafficking.
He remains in custody pending a bail hearing.
