Ontario woman, 85, charged with stunt driving in fatal crash

VAUGHAN, Ont. – 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.

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.

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.