Andrew's Law received royal assent on Tuesday, bringing with it new dangerous-driving penalties and suspension powers into force in the province. The legislation, included in Bill 75, the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act, aims to close a critical gap in the system that has led to preventable tragedies.
Family Advocacy Leads to Change
Jordan Cristillo, brother of Andrew Cristillo, a 35-year-old father of three who was killed in a head-on collision on Hwy. 48 in Whitchurch-Stouffville in August 2025, spearheaded the campaign. His wife and three daughters were injured but survived. Jordan launched a petition just 12 days after his brother's death, gathering over 43,000 signatures. The bill was introduced at Queen's Park that fall and received royal assent 189 days later.
"What we achieved here is closing a critical gap in our system that has been causing innocent people their lives," Jordan told the Toronto Sun. "Unfortunately, my brother is one of the victims of these types of tragedies. They are totally preventable and it is fantastic to see a government actually act on closing a known gap."
Jordan emphasized that their family is not defined by victimhood. "When we see something that is wrong, at least how we were raised, we don't stand by and complain about it," he said. "We are not victims and we are going to take action on things that we think we can influence."
Details of the Crash and Guilty Plea
On April 27, 2026, Jaiwin Victor Kirubananthan, 19, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, failing to remain at the scene of a crash where death ensued, and three counts of dangerous operation causing bodily harm. His sentencing is pending. According to the agreed statement of facts, Kirubananthan was driving south on Hwy. 48 in a reckless manner, exceeding the posted 80 km/h speed limit, and at one point reached 136 km/h while driving south in a northbound lane.
Kirubananthan had previously been charged with dangerous driving in a separate January 2025 incident involving an Ontario Provincial Police vehicle transporting Premier Doug Ford. Seven months later, he was involved in the collision that killed Cristillo.
New Penalties Under Andrew's Law
The new legislation includes indefinite driver's licence suspensions for people convicted of dangerous driving causing death, new authority for police to suspend licences and impound vehicles in certain dangerous-driving cases, increased penalties for driving while suspended, and stronger penalties for some distracted-driving offences involving commercial vehicle operators.
Jordan expressed hope that the legal system will hold the responsible party fully accountable. "One of the things I want to see is the person that caused this tragedy through reckless choices is held to the full account of the law," he said. He also called attention to what he sees as a flawed criminal justice system that often protects offenders rather than victims.
A GoFundMe page set up for the family has raised $543,533 as of Wednesday evening, with the last donation made a month ago.
