Flamborough residents killed in fiery 407 crash
Harpleys were returning from car show when their 1948 Chevy was hit by bus
Chad Harpley attended dozens of car shows over the years with his parents, Dave and Karen.
This past weekend was no different. The longtime Malton family, who friends said moved to Flamborough three years ago, trekked north to Trenton for the Wheels on the Bay car show. Chad’s classic ride — a 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Coupe — was proudly on display there.
It was a vehicle the family travelled in regularly, particularly in the summer months.
The Harpleys died in that car Sunday. They were returning from the car show when the Chevy was T-boned by a bus on Highway 407 near Mississauga Road, causing the car to burst into flames.
“They were a fantastic family. They would do anything for anybody,” said Christine Sargeson, a family friend who was with the Harpleys in Trenton for the show. “This has been devastating.”
The Harpleys were members of the Brampton Street Rods car club. Dave and Karen have two other children and four grandchildren, said Brian Sargeson, president of the Brampton Street Rods.
“They would help any member of the club,” Sargeson said, recalling an occasion when the father and son travelled to Syracuse, N.Y., to help a club member tow his car.
Sargeson said Dave and Chad “were the best of friends” and would take great passion in working on their cars together. Chad worked with the City of Brampton in the parks and recreation department; Dave was a retired Region of Peel employee, Sargeson added.
OPP Sgt. Vince Idzenga said the Chevy was travelling in the far-right lane on the westbound 407 around 3 p.m. when there was a “mechanical issue” with its right rear tire. The driver lost control and the car swerved into the highway’s left-inner lane.
“As a result of that, a coach bus, which was travelling westbound, T-boned the (Chevrolet),” Idzenga said, adding that speed doesn’t appear to be a factor, and investigators are focusing on the mechanical issue.
The Chevrolet burst into flames and rolled into a roadside ditch near Mississauga Road. The car was “consumed by fire,” Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said.
All three Harpleys were pronounced dead at the scene.
Tina MacDonald, Chad’s sister and daughter of Dave and Karen, said the family is “heartbroken” and asked that their privacy be respected “during this trying time.”
No one was injured on the bus and all of the 48 passengers aboard were transferred into another vehicle.