Skip to main content

Police tape.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail

An 85-year-old woman is facing stunt driving charges after a pedestrian and her dog were struck and killed by a vehicle in Vaughan, Ont., last month.

York Regional Police say that on June 10, at about 8:15 p.m., a vehicle left the road and hit a pedestrian and her dog on a sidewalk.

Police say the vehicle then ran across the lawns of several residences and struck several trees and a hydro transformer before coming to rest on its roof.

The pedestrian — a 28-year-old Vaughan resident — and her dog died at the scene.

"This is a horrible accident, it's a horrible tragedy for everyone involved and it could have been prevented with slower speeds," said Const. Laura Nicolle. "I certainly feel for the family."

Police say Betty Kestenberg, of Vaughan, has been charged with stunt driving for going more than 50 kilometres per hour over the speed limit and careless driving.

Ms. Kestenberg and her husband, 88-year-old Louis Kestenberg, who was the lone passenger in the car — also face a charge each of failing to properly wear a seat belt.

The couple were taken to hospital for non-life threatening injuries and are both scheduled to appear in court in Newmarket, Ont., on Aug. 19.

"You don't see these kinds of things all that often where it's an 85-year-old driver charged with stunt driving," said Const. Nicolle.

Ontario driving laws state that residents need to get their licences renewed every two years after their 80th birthday. Const. Nicolle said the driver had a valid licence.

Interact with The Globe