Speeding driver crashes into moose-truck collision

Source: The Telegram

NEWFOUNDLAND - The RCMP is investigating the circumstances surrounding a vehicle that went airborne in a harrowing incident while police and rescue officials were at the scene of an unrelated moose vehicle collision Tuesday night.

About 6 p.m., Holyrood officers responded to the collision involving a moose and a truck.

The moose was lying on the east bound lane of the TCH and the truck was on the left-hand side off the road of the east bound lane.

The man driving the truck was not injured.

Police stopped on the west bound lane of the TCH, across from the collision, to assist and direct traffic.

Assisted by wildlife officers, the moose was loaded aboard the wildlife vehicle.

Both the police vehicle and the wildlife vehicle had their emergency lights on.

RCMP officers were on the road directing traffic with flashlights when one officer heard the sound of fast-moving vehicle travelling in the east bound lane.

Not seeing a vehicle, the officer called out to the other officers and the driver of the truck to stand clear, off the road and away from the crash scene.

All officers crossed the road to the wood side of the west bound lane.

The approaching vehicle was then spotted in the east bound lane, out of control.

This vehicle struck the rear section of the truck that was involved in the moose collision, became airborne traveling in the direction where the police vehicle was stopped, rolled twice before landing on the driver’s side roof and side panel of the police vehicle, bouncing off into the meridian, landing on its roof.

The 28-year-old male driver of this vehicle was found on the passenger side of the vehicle, but managed to get out of the vehicle on his own.

Due to his complaints of injury, an ambulance was called and he went to Health Science Centre for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

RCMP Traffic Services did a collision reconstruction to determine if charges are warranted.

The highway at the time was clear and dry.

No other people on scene were injured, but both vehicles were totally destroyed.