An 85-year-old Vaughan woman has been charged with stunt-driving in connection with a collision in Vaughan that killed a pedestrian and her dog.

A 2001 Lexus sedan heading north on Thornhill Woods Dr. on June 10 veered off the road onto the west-side sidewalk and struck a 28-year-old woman at about 8:15 p.m.

The woman, identified in media reports as driving instructor Biana Cherniavski, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her small black dog, Harley, also died.

York Region police say the Lexus continued north, over the lawns of several homes, hitting several trees and a hydro transformer — knocking out power in the area — before coming to a stop in a driveway, flipped onto its roof.

The driver was transported to Mackenzie Health with non-life-threatening injuries.

Her 88-year-old husband, the only passenger in the Lexus, was also taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Betty Kestenberg is charged with stunt driving, on allegations she was driving more than 50 km/h over the speed limit, as well as careless driving and failing to properly wear a seatbelt.

Her husband, Louis Kestenberg, is also charged with failing to properly wear a seatbelt.

Both are expected to appear in a Newmarket courtroom on Aug. 19.

With files from Andrew Nguyen, Arshy Mann and Jeremy Grimaldi, the Vaughan Liberal.

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