Source: North Bay Nugget
ONTARIO - Nipissing First Nation is in grief following the death Sunday night of Angele Penasse.
Penasse was eastbound on Highway 17 at about 9:20 p. m. when her vehicle collided with a westbound vehicle fleeing Ontario Provincial Police near Golf Course and Dutrisac roads.
The driver of the westbound vehicle was also killed in the collision.
I know all the community members are shaken and a lot of young people and union office workers are also upset," said Bob Goulais, a long-time Nipissing First Nation member.
I didn't know her, but the Penasse family is well known in Garden Village."
Hugh Cosgrove, Penasse's bowling coach last year at the provincial championships in Dryden, said she was a sweet girl, but she had a competitive streak.
He said she was pursuing her education to become a nurse, but always found time to bowl Wednesday nights in Sturgeon Falls.
She had a super attitude. She always had a smile on her face."
Cosgrove said he heard the news from a close family friend.
I knew something was wrong, but I didn't expect this," he said.
Ontario's Special Investigation Unit has taken over the investigation from the OPP. The SIU investigates any incident involving police and civilians that have resulted in a serious injury or death.
The incident occurred while North Bay OPP were conducting roadside checks on Highway 17 east of North Bay and had stopped a vehicle, an OPP media release said.
Two officers were attempting to arrest the driver and occupant of the vehicle as part of a drug investigation. The passenger had been removed from the vehicle and was in custody when the driver fled, causing minor injuries to one officer, police said.
The driver headed west toward Sturgeon Falls and the West Nipissing Police Service deployed a spike belt to assist the OPP.
The fleeing vehicle went over the spike belt and stbound, colliding with the eastbound vehicle.
The name of the driver in the fleeing car wasn't released.
The stretch of highway, according to Jo-An Gascon, is an engineering nightmare."
Gascon, who lives near the site, had herself been involved in a collision with a tractor trailer in November, 2008, near the scene of the fatal crash.
There was nothing left of the cars, just a little piece of motor, some metal, seats and airbags," Gascon said Monday.
There's too much action going on at this corner. I can count on a daily basis the number of near mishaps. It's very dangerous," she said.
It's positively absurd that the highway would have two lanes merge into one at the same moment that the speed increases by 20 kilometres an hour (to 90 km-h from 70) then have people making left hand turns into their driveway all within seconds.
The passing lane should be extended a couple hundred metres," she said, adding she's been in contact with MPs and MPPs about the issue.
Gascon joined a small group of people and placed tobacco near the crash site.
We put tobacco as close to her car as we could," Gascon said. We did it as a sign of respect and an offering to the creator to ensure her safe passage to meet her ancestors."
Monica Hudon, spokeswoman for the SIU, confirmed investigators will be looking for answers to many questions such as why the spike belt was used and why traffic wasn't stopped.
The SIU has assigned three investigators and three forensic investigators to the case.
The SIU is appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact the unit at 416- 622-1957 or 1-800-787-8529.
A FaceBook Group, R.I.P Angele Penasse.. You will Always be Loved, has been established for Angele's friends and family to share memories and condolences.
Source: North Bay Nugget
Two die during attempted police arrest in Sturgeon Falls
ONTARIO - Two people died in a collision east of Sturgeon Falls Sunday evening and the Special Investigations Unit is involved because police were attempting an arrest at the time.
The North Bay Ontario Provincial Police were conducting a Festive RIDE on Highway 17 East of North Bay when they stopped a vehicle, an OPP media release stated.
Two officers were in the process of arresting a driver an occupant of a vehicle as part of a drug investigation when the driver fled, causing minor injuries to one officer, police said.
The driver proceeded westbound toward Sturgeon Falls and the West Nipissing Police Service assisted the OPP by deploying a spike belt.
The driver of the fleeing vehicle went over the spike belt and continued westbound, colliding with an eastbound vehicle.
Both drivers died. Names of the deceased have not been released and the SIU is investigating police involvement in the fatalities.
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