"She didn't know that my dad had died," she said. "She was driving and was pinned in the car and was screaming the kids' names and she couldn't...there was no answer.

"At first she thought it was her hearing but it wasn't until I called her from Sick Kids and I said, 'Mommy the babies are dying, I need you to sing to them please,' so she did, she sang to each of them, and then she found out about my dad."

Police said all were travelling in the same vehicle when their car was struck by another car. Fire officials said they were T-boned by the other car. A third vehicle was also involved in the crash but its two occupants were not injured.

A 29-year-old man was charged with a dozen impaired-driving offences and appeared briefly in court Monday. Marco Muzzo of King Township, Ont., also faces six charges related to the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

He is due in court for a bail hearing Friday. Crown attorney Brian McCallion said he will be contesting Muzzo's release.

Muzzo's lawyer Rudi Covre would only say that his client is struggling.

"I'm sure you can appreciate that this is a very tough time for him," he said outside the courthouse after the hearing.

"It's a difficult period in his life right now. We're going to have to get through it."

A man by the same name as Marco Muzzo is listed as the director of Marel Contractors, based in Vaughan, Ont.

A biography on the company's website says the director graduated from the construction engineering management program at Fanshawe College.

A woman who answered the phone at Marel Contractors said the company had no comment because the matter is before the courts.

Covre, the counsel for Muzzo, declined to comment when asked if Muzzo was connected to Marel Contractors.

The Canadian Press has no further information at this time on the person charged

The two boys who died were students at St. Joachim Elementary School in Brampton, Ont. — Daniel was in Grade 4 and Harrison in senior kindergarten, according to the school board.

Grief counsellors are at the Catholic school and Tuesday's mass will be dedicated to the siblings, spokesman Bruce Campbell said. A memory table has also been set up in the foyer for students to share their feelings and recollections, he said.

"It's obviously a shock," he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people moved by the tragedy sought to help the family by donating to an online fundraiser in their name. By mid-afternoon Monday, more than $60,000 had been raised through the GoFundMe campaign.

Many expressed their condolences on the site.

"Such a sad story. I taught one of the boys a few years back in daycare and can't imagine this happening to such a wonderful, loving family," one woman wrote.

"I pray that this family can deal with this most horrific event. The loss of your father and all three of your children is absolutely heart-wrenching. My condolences xo," said another.

MADD Canada said there are somewhere between 1,250 and 1,500 deaths related to impaired driving in Canada each year. Andrew Murie, the organization's CEO, said both the federal and provincial governments need to increase penalties for impaired drivers.

By The Canadian Press