Couple killed in Parkside Drive crash had a love story that 'blossomed across oceans,' court hears
CBC
A couple killed in a crash on Parkside Drive in 2021 were adoring grandparents whose loss will be felt for generations, their daughter told court on Thursday.
Valdemar Avila, 71, and Fatima Avila, 69, had an infectious enthusiasm for life, said their daughter, Ashley, according to a copy of her victim impact statement obtained by CBC Toronto.
The couple were killed on Oct. 12, 2021, when a man crashed into them while they were stopped at a red light.
"My heart aches not only for myself but for my children, who will never know the full measure of their grandparents' love," Ashley Avila said.
The man, Artur Kotula, now 41, was found guilty in November 2024 of two counts each of dangerous driving causing death and bodily harm. Toronto police previously said Kotula was travelling at high speed before the crash.
The crash caused a chain reaction collision with three other vehicles. Kotula's car then mounted the sidewalk and knocked over a hydro pole, according to an agreed statement of facts submitted to court.
Valdemar died at the scene, while Fatima died later in hospital. Two people in another car sustained minor injuries.
During Kotula's sentencing hearing on Thursday, Avila said her parents immigrated to Canada from Portugal in the early 1970s with hopes of building a better life.
"Their love story blossomed across oceans, culminating in a marriage that I deeply admired," she said.
After the couple moved, Avila said they worked tirelessly, often living on little more than soup until they paid off their mortgage.
Her father had a heart of gold and always lent a hand to those in need, she said. He found joy in his work as a roofer and never wanted to retire.
"It is heartbreaking to know that he never got the chance to step back, to enjoy the fruits of his labour and the peacefulness of his older years," Avila said.
When Avila had children herself, her parents were overjoyed. They showered their grandchildren with "love, laughter and wisdom," Avila said.
Her family spent many days at her parents' home, which she described as a sanctuary of love and support. Her parents became a crucial part of her own family's dynamic, she said.
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