Single mother of 1 identified as among dead in Toronto van attack

Renuka Amarasingha, who worked at Toronto District School Board, died in Monday's attack

A single mother of a young son is the latest person to be identified as a victim of Monday's van attack in Toronto. 

Renuka Amarasingha was one of 10 people killed when a white rental van mounted the curb of busy Yonge Street and drove forward, striking pedestrians, friends said. She was a Toronto District School Board (TDSB) employee.

The accused driver, 25-year-old Alek Minassian, faces 10 counts of first-degree murder and 13 counts of attempted murder. 

Due to the complexity of the investigation, Ontario's chief coroner, Dr. Dirk Huyer, said Tuesday it will be several days before his team officially confirms victims' identities. 

But family, friends and employers have begun reaching out to news outlets and posting online about the people who have died. 

Renuka Amarasingha

On Wednesday morning, Renuka Amarasingha, a single mother, was confirmed by the TDSB as having died in the attack.

"It is with heavy hearts that we are learning of the death of a TDSB staff member whose life was tragically cut short," wrote John Molloy, director of education, in a statement.

He said Amarasingha was a former TDSB adult student who had worked as a nutrition services staff member at a number of schools since 2015.