TORONTO — The family of a suspected drunk driver charged in the deaths of three children and their grandfather says it is "deeply saddened" by the tragedy.
Marco Muzzo's mother Dawn Muzzo expressed the family's condolences in a statement released today.
Marco Muzzo, of King Township, Ont., faces a dozen impaired-driving offences and six charges related to the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle after he allegedly crashed into a minivan carrying six members of a family.
Daniel Neville-Lake, 9, his brother Harrison, 5, their sister Milly, 2, and the kids' 65-year-old grandfather died after the crash that took place Sunday afternoon in Vaughan, Ont.
The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General says Muzzo has seven non-criminal offences, including a conviction for driving with a handheld device.
It says Muzzo's previous offences occurred throughout the Toronto area, from Richmond Hill to Newmarket to Orillia and Mississauga.
His lawyer Rudi Covre said he was unaware of the previous offences but does not believe they will affect the criminal case.
"There may be a minimal role that they play but I don't think there will be any impact," he said. "A lot of kids, a lot of people have traffic tickets."
The 29-year-old was charged last March with holding a handheld communication device while driving in Caledon, Ont., according to a copy of the ticket obtained by The Canadian Press.
A Caledon courthouse clerk says he failed to respond to the ticket and was automatically convicted and paid the $280 fine.
On Feb. 9, 2012, Muzzo was charged with speeding, allegedly travelling 134 kilometres per hour in a 100-kilometre-per-hour zone on Highway 407 in Oshawa, Ont., at 10:46 a.m.
A Durham Whitby court clerk said the speeding ticket was withdrawn and no reasons were given.
