Father, daughter killed in Highway 401 crash in Mississauga identified

A father and daughter who were killed in a devastating Highway 401 crash in Mississauga last week have been identified.

Ralph Crane, 80, and his daughter, Sheri-Lynn Crane-Gormley, 53, both of Cambridge, died in the July 15 collision in the eastbound express lanes of Highway 401 near Dixie Road.

Ontario Provincial Police have not released their names, but they were identified in an obituary published by Corbett Funeral Home.

According to the obituary, the pair were travelling to Toronto Pearson International Airport to begin what had become an annual summer trip to Bell Island, N.L. The journey held special meaning for the family, as it was where Ralph and his wife, Cynthia, were born, first met and returned to each year.

“They were on their way to the airport to begin their annual journey to Bell Island, Newfoundland, where Ralph and his beloved wife, Cynthia, were both born, first met, and returned together each summer to the home and community they cherished so deeply,” the obituary states.

Police said the crash happened shortly before 9 a.m. when two passenger vehicles were involved in a rear-end collision as traffic slowed in the eastbound express lanes. Crane and Crane-Gormley were passengers in a silver Honda CR-V that was struck from behind by another vehicle.

The pair were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Honda, another passenger and a driver of a Mercedes SUV were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The collision forced the closure of the eastbound express lanes for several hours, causing major traffic delays across Highway 401 and Highway 410 before reopening later that afternoon.

The obituary paints a picture of two people deeply devoted to their families.

Crane, a retired international business executive with Preformed Line Products, was remembered as a humble man whose greatest source of pride was his family. A lifelong music enthusiast who could play nearly any instrument by ear, he was affectionately known as “Poppy” by his grandchildren and was remembered for his generosity, humour and unwavering support of those around him.

Crane-Gormley worked as a medical clerk at Cambridge Memorial Hospital and was described as someone whose warmth and kindness left a lasting impression on everyone she met. Her family said her greatest joy in life was her daughter, Alysha, and that she was devoted to her husband, Jamie Gormley, and their blended family.

The obituary describes the collision as “horrific.” Investigators have not released any findings regarding the cause of the crash.

The OPP’s investigation remains ongoing. Investigators have asked anyone who witnessed the collision or has dashcam footage to contact the Mississauga OPP detachment.

Funeral visitation for Ralph Crane and Sheri-Lynn Crane-Gormley is scheduled for July 24 at Corbett Funeral Home in Cambridge, with a funeral service to follow on July 25.