Tuesday, April 27, 2004

FATALITY IDENTIFIED
(Bruce Mines, Ontario)

The identity of the victim involved in the fatal motor vehicle collision on Saturday April 24, 2004 east of Bruce Mines, Ontario has been confirmed with the assistance of the Northeast Region Forensics Identification Services Unit – Sault Ste. Marie.

William Edward SECORD (37) of Toronto, Ontario has been identified as the driver of the eastbound 1992 Oldsmobile Cutlass that collided with a westbound transport. Both vehicles were destroyed by fire in the collision.

Positive identification was made through fingerprints.


BLACK ICE CAUSES EARLY MORNING HIGHWAY CLOSURE

Montreal River, Ont.,

Hwy 17 in the Montreal River area was closed last night after weather conditions caused traffic problems.

This morning at about 2:00 a.m. OPP officers from both Wawa and Sault Ste Marie Detachments were forced to close Hwy 17 at Montreal River because a series of transports that got stuck on the Montreal River Hill. Black ice in and around the Montreal River area coated the highway and the transports were unable to make it up the hill.

Minor damage was reported to several of the rigs as they slowly slid into each other. The highway was re-opened shortly after 3:00 a.m. after highway maintenance crews were able to apply sand and salt to the roadway.

OPP officers on patrol north of Sault Ste Marie area reporting isolated icy sections on Hwy 17. Officers did investigate one other collision in the Batchawana area last night. A van pulling a trailer lost control on an icy section of Hwy 17 and slid into the ditch. The trailer was demolished but no one was injured.