Saturday, December 18, 2004

Two dead - driver headed wrong way on Highway 11 avoids OPP, then crashes head-on

(Bracebridge, ONT) - Members of the Bracebridge Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police are currently investigating a fatal two-vehicle head-on collision in the northbound lanes of Highway 11 near the Fraserburg Road overpass in the Town of Bracebridge.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 18, 2004 the lone driver of a southbound 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup truck traveling the wrong direction on Highway 11 crashed head-on into a northbound 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier near the Fraserburg Road overpass.

Both vehicles were demolished.

The driver of the pickup, 59 year-old Michael Blackley of Huntsville, and the lone driver of the northbound car, 24 year-old Jeremy Boyer of Bracebridge, were both pronounced dead at the scene. Minutes before the crash police received complaints of the pickup truck heading the wrong direction on Highway 11 in the Port Sydney area. Members of Bracebridge Detachment immediately responded, closing the northbound lanes of Highway 11 at Taylor Road after receiving a motorist update that the vehicle had reached High Falls Road, which is just north of Taylor Road.
As officers attempted to stop the pickup just north of the Taylor Road interchange, the driver slowed then sped up past one officer and forced a second to take evasive action to avoid a head-on collision.

The driver continued south at a high rate of speed past a line of stopped northbound traffic. Officers immediately alerted other responding members to close the highway south of their location.
Moments later officers subsequently came upon the head-on crash near the Fraserburg Road overpass, which is approximately two kilometres south of Taylor Road
.
Police are continuing the investigation. Alcohol is not considered a factor in the crash. The northbound lanes of Highway 11 were closed at Cedar Lane until 6:30 a.m. and are now re-opened.