Family awaits justice in 2019 crash as driver's sentencing hearing is delayed

It's been nearly five years since Clarice Abdulla died weeks after a collision on Christmas Day in Vaughan.

Her family is still struggling to cope with their loss.

"I think that's probably been the worst thing to this whole situation. She won't see my wedding. She didn't see their weddings or the birth of their child," said Abdulla's son, Cory Abdulla.

• Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
• Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox

At the time of the 2019 crash, police said a black Toyota Sequoia struck a grey Hyundai Santa Fe at the Major Mackenzie Drive West and Fossil Hill Road intersection.

"He just ran the lights and t-boned my brother's vehicle and my dad's, and it went spinning," Abdulla said.

Three people were extricated from the Hyundai and rushed to the hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the Toyota, Gianmarco Di Luciano, was arrested and accused of impaired driving. He was charged and later released from police custody.

Clarice, 67, later died in the hospital of complications with her lungs.

"She coded, and everyone was trying to resuscitate her, and all my family watched her pass away," Abdulla said.

In November, Di Luciano was found not guilty of impaired driving causing death, criminal negligence and dangerous driving causing death in relation to the collision.

The defence told the court that Di Luciano's alcohol consumption played zero role in the crash in which he admitted to speeding and running the red light before crashing into the Hyundai.

Ultimately, the jury convicted the Aurora man of dangerous driving causing bodily harm and refusing to provide a breath sample to the police.

A sentencing hearing scheduled for Friday was adjourned after Di Luciano's lawyer told the court his client was experiencing a personal crisis. CTV News learned that Luciano was recently taken into custody on allegations of breaching his release conditions. Those allegations have not been tested in court.

The halted court proceedings left the Abdulla family to continue waiting for justice while they mourn the loss of Clarice - wife, mother and grandmother.

"Christmas is ruined for my family and my mom coded on New Year's Day, January 1, so those two holidays are completely ruined. We don't do anything more for those holidays," Abdulla concluded.

Di Luciano's lawyer is seeking a bail review to secure his client's release. Di Luciano is expected to return to court in early September.