Thursday, April 17, 2008

TWO KILLED IN COLLISION - UPDATE

Highway 17, Baldwin Township

(Espanola, ON) - At 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16th, 2008, members of the Espanola OPP Detachment responded to a fatal motor vehicle collision on Highway 17, Baldwin Township, just west of Highway 6.

Investigation reveals that for unknown reasons, an eastbound Toyota car crossed the centre line and struck a westbound five (5) ton delivery truck head-on . Both occupants in the eastbound vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver is identified as Delice GUENETTE, age 68 of Bond Township (Matheson, ON) and the passenger is identified as Amanda ARSENAULT, age 84 of Victoria Township (east of Spanish). The driver of the delivery truck, Grant RADBOURNE, age 42, from Massey, was air lifted to St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Sudbury with serious but non-life threatening injuries.

Two OPP Collision Reconstructionists along with an MTO Inspector, attended the scene to assist with the investigation. The highway was closed in both directions for approximately six hours while officers investigated. A detour of the scene was set up for east and west bound passenger vehicles but not for commercial motor vehicles, via Lee Valley Road and Old Webbwood Road.

The investigation is continuing and a post mortem on the driver is scheduled for today.

NO EXCUSE FOR NOT BUCKLING UP

(Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) Sault Ste. Marie OPP officers were out in full force yesterday for the start of the annual spring seatbelt safety campaign.

A total of 7 adult drivers’ were charged under the Provincial Offences Act for not wearing their seatbelts.

Drivers and passengers 16 years of age and older, convicted of failing to use or improperly using a seatbelt are subject to a $110.00 fine. The driver would also have two demerit points applied to their driver record for failing to use, or improperly using a seatbelt or failing to ensure a passenger under the age of 16 is properly restrained.

TWO DRIVER’S CHARGED WITH EXCEEDING 50 KM/HR OVER THE SPEED LIMIT

(Laird Twp., Ont.) Members of the Sault Ste. Marie OPP Detachment continue to patrol highways and roadways in the area to ensure that those driving on them do so in a manner that is within the rules of the road that are set out in the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario.

Early yesterday evening a Sault Ste. Marie OPP officer was conducting radar patrol on Highway #17 in Laird Township.

At approximately 7:45 p.m. the officer observed a 2002 red Oldsmobile car and a 2004 BMW car traveling at a high rate of speed. Both vehicles were traveling side by side westbound. The 2002 red Oldsmobile was locked on radar at 145 km/hr in a posted 90 km/hr zone.

When pulled over by Police the driver’s indicated that they were traveling together out West.

Croix Justine Alexander WRIGHT (22 years old) of Surrey British Columbia is charged with Stunt Driving, 145 km/hr in a posted 90 km/hr. zone contrary to Section 172(1) of the Highway Traffic Act.

William BAQUE, (28 years) of Brampton, Ontario is also charged with Stunt Driving contrary to section 172(1) of the Highway Traffic Act.

Both drivers’ were issued a summons for court for May 21, 2008.

Those people that are charged under section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act with driving at a rate of speed that is at 50 km/hr over the posted speed limit will have:

Their driver’s license immediately suspended for seven days.
The vehicle will be impounded immediately for seven days. (Even if the driver is not the owner or the vehicle is rented or borrowed).
The driver is responsible for the towing and storage costs.
Those convicted under section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act are liable to a fine of not less that $2,000.00 the possibility of a jail sentence of not more than six months as well as a further driver’s license suspension.

The Morning After

(Township of the Northshore) Officers on patrol on Hwy 17 were alerted to a more serious offence when driver failed to move to the left for a stopped emergency vehicle.

On Saturday 12 Apr.08 at approximately 10:30 a.m. an officer had a vehicle stopped on the north shoulder of Hwy 17 in the Township of the Northshore. Another vehicle that passed the cruiser failed to slowdown and move to the left.

The officer stopped the second car and when speaking to the driver determined that he had been consuming an alcoholic beverage. Further investigation led to the driver failing the roadside-screening test.

Charged with failing to slow and move to the left for Emergency vehicle and Driving a motor vehicle in Excess of the legal limit is:
38-year-old Perry Joseph BOYER of Ella Drive Mississauga First nation.

Boyer is to appear in court in Blind River on 01 May 2008.

OPP/MTO BLITZ IN ELLIOT LAKE

(Elliot Lake, Ont.) The East Algoma OPP with the assistance of the MTO conducted a two day safety blitz in Elliot Lake.

Results are as follows:

38 vehicles checked

25 deemed unfit and plates removed

6 with minor defects – to be rechecked

7 passed