The mother of three children killed by a drunk driver in Vaughan, Ont., has penned a heartbreaking Facebook post to mark the one-year anniversary of their deaths in which she suggests that she has been the victim of extortion attempts from people who picked up items from the crash site.

Jennifer Neville-Lake lost children Daniel, 9, Harrison, 5, and Milly, 2, as well as her father, Gary Neville, 65, on Sept. 27, 2015, when an SUV driven by Marco Muzzo blew through a stop sign and collided with a minivan carrying the members of the Neville-Lake family.

Two other family members, the children's grandmother and her mother, suffered serious injuries in the crash.

Jennifer Neville-Lake, right, seen with her husband, Edward Lake, has written an emotional Facebook post on the anniversary of the crash that killed her three children and her father. (Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

In her Facebook post, which went live on Monday night — the eve of the crash anniversary — Neville-Lake said she had been logging onto the social media site to revisit the moments she had shared about her children "since I can't make new memories with my kids anymore."

"Every day I could I would log on to see all the beautiful moments that my family and I created," she wrote. "I won't be doing that much anymore because today is the last day of BEFORE and tomorrow is the anniversary of my life sentence."

She went on to thank "everyone who has sent love, prayers, strength and support" to her and her family, and then turned her attention to "the haters and trolls," including those who have criticized the winter hat she wore during Muzzo's trial.

"Also," she went on, "I beg you, if you have items that you picked up from the crash site and want me to have them, please just send them. I can't give you what I don't have and my inability to pay you for these items is in no way related to how much I love my children."

Const. Andy Pattenden, a spokesman for York Regional Police, said what Neville-Lake is describing could be grounds for an extortion charge.

But he told CBC News Tuesday that police were not aware of any such incidents until seeing her Facebook post, and no complaint has been brought to their attention.

This memorial started outside the Neville-Lake home after the crash last September. (Shannon Martin/CBC)

Neville-Lake closed her post by imploring readers not to drink and drive.

"Our story is one fading afternoon and is darkening with time. I can share with you how hollow and desolate my life is because someone chose to drink and drive on a Sunday afternoon. I can probably make you cry imagining what it is like to be me existing in an empty and dead house," she wrote. "But I can't stop you from drinking and driving. My shattered heart can't. My dead dad can't. My dead children can't.

"Only you can. I hope you choose life."

'Bad decisions'

On Tuesday, York Regional Police issued a statement saying that since the crash, the force has laid more than 1,100 impaired-related criminal driving charges. That figure is similar to the previous year, according to a statement from the force.

"Despite all of our efforts, sadly we continue to deal with people that are making the choice to drink alcohol or use drugs and drive, and let me be clear, it is a choice," York police Chief Eric Jolliffe said in a statement.

"The consequences of making these bad decisions have never been more apparent. The grief and sorrow that continues to be felt extends far beyond the immediate family, first responders and our investigators. It has touched our entire community."

Penalties for impaired driving include a suspended licence, fines, jail time and legal and insurance costs, the statement noted, adding that anyone who spots what they believe is an impaired driver should call 911 immediately.

Marco Muzzo, right, leaves the Newmarket courthouse surrounded by family on Feb. 4, 2016. (Christopher Katsarov/Canadian Press)

Muzzo sentenced to 10 years

On the day of the crash, Muzzo returned from a trip to Miami on a private jet, picked up his Jeep from the airport parking lot and drove off.

According to an agreed statement of facts read in court, the SUV was travelling 85 kilometres an hour when Muzzo drove through the stop sign, slamming into the driver's side of the minivan. Muzzo's blood-alcohol level at the time ranged between 0.19 and 0.25 — roughly two to three times the legal limit in Ontario.

Earlier this year, Muzzo pleaded guilty to four counts of impaired driving causing death and two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm. In March, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison and will be subject to a 12-year driving ban upon his release.

In April, the Neville-Lake family filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Muzzo and his family's drywall company, Marel Contractors, arguing their negligence caused the fatal crash.

The lawsuit contains allegations that have not been proven in court, and a statement of defence has not been filed.