Victims of fiery QEW crash on Sunday identified as Hamiltonians

Two people that died in a fiery collision on Sunday in Mississauga have been identified as residents of Hamilton.

Thirty-four-year-old Jonathan Lopez and April Rose Viernes, 33, were killed when the vehicle they were riding in was rear-ended and caught on fire.

The Ontario Provincial Police say the collision involved four vehicles and happened just after midnight on the eastbound lanes of the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW), between Erin Mills Parkway and Mississauga Road.

A car approaching traffic hit the vehicle in front of them, which hit a third vehicle and then collided with a fourth vehicle.

The first and second vehicles both caught fire as a result of the collision.

Lopez and Viernes were in the second vehicle and were not able to escape before the vehicle was consumed by flames.

Two people killed in a multi-vehicle collision, EB #QEW/Mississauga Rd. Sunday Oct 15 12am. One person faces charges of dangerous driving and impaired driving, causing death. Any witnesses are asked to call #MississaugaOPP 905-858-8670 ^ks pic.twitter.com/sqvfs8J8Qi

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) October 16, 2023

Family of Lopez and Viernes have set up a GoFundMe page to cover funeral costs and it has almost reached its $25,000 goal after just three days.

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Police say the driver of the first vehicle, 32-year-old Andy Persuad of Mississauga, was able to get out before the fire destroyed his vehicle.

Persuad was arrested and charged with two counts of impaired driving causing death, and two counts of dangerous driving causing death. He remains in custody pending a bail hearing.

Any witnesses or anyone with dash camera footage of the incident are asked to call the Mississauga OPP at 905-858-8670.