Drunk driving charges laid in crash that killed Sarah and Freya Payne

Provincial police have charged a Cambridge man in connection with a two vehicle crash on Highway 401, west of London, that ended in the death of a mother and her young daughter.

Police said apick-up truck heading east crossed the centre median on August 29, 2017 and struck a van heading west.

Two people in the van, 42-year-old Sarah Payne and herfive-year-old daughter,Freya Payne, of London, died of their injuries.

The woman's six-year-old son, William Payne, and the driver of the pick-up truck, a Cambridge man, were treated in hospital.

The OPP said Friday they have charged 53-year-old HubertDomonchukof Cambridge with a number of charges, includingtwo counts of impaired driving causing death, two counts of dangerous driving causing death, and marijuana possession.

'Shocking,' 'disappointing'

Allyson Storey, a close friend of the Payne family said everyone was still processing the news that charges were laid in the deadly crash.

"It's shocking and hugely disappointing that these charges were laid," she told CBC NewsFriday. "This just really adds salt to that wound."

Story said there is a feeling of relief that someone will be held to account, adding she hopes Domonchuk will be punished to the full extent of the law.

"A Tuesday afternoon on a sunny, clear day you don't really expect to be facing a drunk driver," she said. "We need to figure out a way to stop this kind of drunk driving from happening."

"We need to push this issue now while we have the government's attention,"she said, noting there's been a push to add barriers on the median between east and westbound lanes of the 401 near Dutton, in the area where Sarah and FreyaPayne were killed.

Suspect arrested at home

Police would not reveal details about how the 4-week long investigation was conducted, stating that information would come out in court.

"What I can say is that officers investigated and that formed the grounds on which the charges were based."said OPPConst. Adam Crewdson.

Crewdson could not say whether a breathalyzer was done at the accident scene but he did say the accused was in possession of more than one gram of marijuana.

Crewdson said the impaired charges are related to alcohol.

Domonchuk was treated in hospital after the crash and is continuing with medical followup, Crewdson said.

He was arrested at home and will appear in a St.Thomas court on November 14.