OPP MEDIA RELEASE
ONTARIO - On the 20th September 2009 at 3:23 P.M., a member of the Nottawasaga OPP was conducting traffic enforcement on Simcoe County Road # 90 near Simcoe County Road #56 when the officer observed the driver of a 2004 Dodge RAM2500 pickup truck executing a burnout which measured 18 metres long on Simcoe County Road #56 at the intersection of Simcoe County Road #90.
The smoke from the burnout travelled across Simcoe County Road #90 completely obscuring any view of traffic travelling on County Road 90.
The vehicle was stopped and the driver identified.
Brian Lewis age 24 from Cumberland Beach was charged with Stunt Driving under Section 172 of the Highway Traffic Act. His licence was suspended for 7 days and his vehicle was impounded for 7 days.
The accused will appear in Churchill court to answer to the above charge.
Police are asking anyone with information relating to crimes to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous and does not subscribe to call display. You will not testify in court and you maybe eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
Search all posts:
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Man arrested after performing 18-metre long burnout near Essa, ON
Georgetown woman dies in crash
Toronto Star
ONTARIO - A woman has died after a serious collision east of Rockwood Saturday night.
County of Wellington OPP were called to the crash on Highway 7 near the Halton Region Townline around 11:15 p.m.
The head-on collision between an eastbound Saturn and a westbound Toyota sent the occupants of both vehicles to Georgetown Hospital with serious injuries.
One of the occupants, a 53-year-old Georgetown woman, later died from her injuries in hospital.
The highway will remain closed and traffic will be rerouted while Wellington OPP continue to investigate the cause of the crash.
Three dead in Hwy. 22 crash near Pincher Creek, AB
CBC.ca
ALBERTA - Hail and sleet may have been factors in a two-vehicle crash that killed three people in southern Alberta, police say.
A passenger van heading north collided with a southbound truck at about 9 a.m. Sunday on Highway 22 in the Crowsnest Pass region, police said.
All three occupants of the van were killed. They have been identified as Darrel Johnston, 52, of Crowsnest Pass and William Desjardins, 60, and James Hutchinson, 46, both of Fernie, B.C.
The two men in the truck were taken to hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The cause of the crash has not been determined, but road conditions were poor, police said.
Hail, sleet and wet snow were falling, and the temperature was hovering just above 0 C. Other drivers reported that the road was covered with ice and slush.
Driving at the speed of stupid in Puslinch Township, ON - Burlington teen allegedly flees crashed vehicle
thespec.com
ONTARIO - A 19-year-old Burlington man is facing charges after police found him and another teen near the site of an abandoned and damaged vehicle.
OPP said the driver of a vehicle was headed westbound on Highway 401 near Highway 6 north when it was abandoned by the two people riding in it around 5 a.m. Saturday. Police said the vehicle appeared as if it had been in a recent collision and showed “severe damage.”
A little while later, two people were found by police near the intersection of the 401 and Highway 6 south.
The Burlington man now faces several charges, including impaired driving, failing to report a collision and a G2 driving license violation for alcohol.
A 17-year-old male believed to be the passenger in the vehicle was ticketed for consuming liquor under age.
"Driving at the speed of stupid" defined
Chasing a suspected criminal when the victim is already safe an incredible danger to the motoring public says Ottawa Citizen reader
Photograph by: Jana Chytilova, The Ottawa Citizen
FULL STORY
Pair in Porsche chase down man accused of drunk driving, sex assault
OPINION
Peterd
September 20, 2009 - 3:03 PM
Good Lord!
The Citizen prints a story like this and actually has the temerity to portray these two as hero's ?
This is wrong in so many ways, I scarcely know where to begin.
First, let me give O'Connor and Spezza credit for stopping to help out.
That much is commendable.
However, that's where their involvement should have ended.
As stated in the story, the woman was obviously no longer confined in the car with the alleged attacker, and was in fact on the telephone with 911 dispatchers. She was no longer in any danger as she was now with O'Connor and Spezza, and the police had been made aware of the incident, so were ostensibly en route to the scene. The vehicle was clearly visible to them, as was the driver, so identification of the suspect was not a problem. As well, it was mentioned that the man was an acquaintance of the woman, and was thus known to her.
In short, a pursuit was totally unnecessary!
The two should simply have done their best to be good witnesses, and stayed with the victim until police arrived.
Instead, they took it upon themselves to pursue an individual through our city for more than a quarter of an hour at speeds of over 100 mph for no good reason, co-incidentally placing every one of us on the roads at that time at risk of death or injury ! I simply cannot see how anyone could justify traveling at speeds like that on city streets, simply to apprehend an individual whom they did not observe commit a serious offense, who can be clearly identified, and is no longer a danger! Even police policy prohibits officers from displaying this type of behavior.
This is heroic?
O'Connor and Spezza came upon a situation without being aware of the entirety of it. It was nothing more than two people yelling at one another at the point of their arrival. There may have been more to the story, but they knew for certain nothing of what precipitated it, or if her allegations were in fact true. It was not their place to make a decision to mete out vigilante justice. Police are trained to evaluate and control these kinds of situations, then make determinations based on facts obtained from all involved parties.
O'connor and Spezza do not have the benefit of this training to the best of my knowledge.
Next, instead of waiting for the arrival of police, they escalated the situation unnecessarily by initiating a pointless, extremely high-speed chase through city streets, a situation made worse by the presence of the 'victim' they had just 'saved' in the Porsche with them. Pursuits, when necessary, are usually well coordinated in order that they may be quickly and safely concluded. They are also the last resort of police, not the first, and officers are, by necessity, highly trained in order to be able to deal with them safely. Incidentally, this training, I am sure, would advise that the pursuing driver should not be using a cell phone while driving one-handed down the shoulder of a road at 100mph, as Mr. O'Connor has stated he did.
Again, I believe it is almost certain neither O'Connor or Spezza have had any training with regards to this type of activity.
Lastly, what would have happened had they actually apprehended the individual without killing him, themselves, the 'victim', or someone else in a motor vehicle accident? What if the individual was carrying a firearm or other weapon? Is either O'Connor or Spezza trained or equipped to deal with that possibility?
I think not.
In any case, whatever I, or the other citizens of Ottawa think of their exceedingly irresponsible and dangerous behavior is simply immaterial.
They will receive nothing but accolades for their actions.
In no way will they be held accountable for the danger they placed all of us in.
Mr.O'Connor, the owner of the Porsche, apparently, is a young man, and not the type one would imagine could have the type of employment that would allow for the purchase of a car that costs over half of what the average house sells for in Ottawa. This can only mean an affluent family, and in turn, this means influence. He will therefore never suffer any kind of repercussions for his wantonly dangerous behavior.
Speaking of influence, one need only look at the name of his passenger. That alone insures nothing will ever come of this incident.
They may receive, at worst, a mild reprimand, but nothing like the absolute crucifixion any one of us 'peasants' would experience had we committed the same reckless offense. I am almost certain I, nor anyone I know, would have received congratulations from an Ottawa police constable at the conclusion of an insane chase like this, no matter what thin justification we tried to present.
Of course there will be some half-hearted statements of concern about what might have happened had things gone worse, and some admonitions about how it was lucky that it all turned out so well, but in the end, it will all just be forgotten. Also, I am almost certain that for their part, the police will do their utter best to downplay this incident and hope it will soon fade from public consciousness.
How unfortunate that we will probably let them do just that.
For shame.
Three teens killed in crash near Navan, Ontario. Youngest victim was only 16
Updated 21 SEP 09
Ottawa Citizen [adapted]
ONTARIO - What was supposed to be a joyous occasion — a party celebrating a friend’s first home — ended in disaster early Sunday when the driver of a truck carrying four teens flipped it on a dirt backroad in Navan, killing three of the vehicle’s occupants.
Police are not releasing the names of the three victims, however, many friends, eager to share their memories, have confirmed their identities on Facebook.
Brad Rivington, 19, Chris Sabean, 19, and Ginny Marko, 16, died shortly before 1:40 a.m. when the truck they were travelling in rolled over on Heuvelmans Road, just north of Magladry Road after its driver lost control. The cab was crushed. An 18-year-old woman was rushed to hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening, injuries.
OTHER COVERAGE
Police probe fatal crash that killed three teens. Truck belonged to Chris Sabean's brother [interviews from CTV]
Police try to make sense of Navan crash that killed three teens
Ottawa Citizen story and commentary
Sir Wil principal's message
3 teens die in Navan crash
Navan crash scene photos
CBC story and commentary
An impromptu memorial to the teenagers was created on Facebook early Sunday afternoon.
Other mourners gathered outside a home on Colonial Road registered to Norman and Bonnie Rivington, Brad’s parents, to comfort one another.
Friends described the three as “carefree” and “loveable,” saying that aside from being typical teenagers, they were all striving to get ahead in life.
Brad Cardinal, 18, grew up with Rivington and Sabean, who had just graduated from high school.
Thanks to a helping hand from his parents, Rivington had just taken possession of his first home along Heuvelmans Road near Magladry Road and was planning to fix up the small, rundown bungalow. He wanted to open a home renovation business and worked part-time at Bradley’s JT Country Convenience Inc. in Navan to help make ends meet.
“He was very well-known around here,” said Cardinal. “Brad was big on sports, always wanted to have fun. He knew what he wanted to do.”
Cardinal said Sabean wasn’t much different. The 19-year-old worked at his father’s glass shop in Gloucester, learning the trade.
“He was always happy and didn’t really worry about what he was doing. He was a typical teenager,” said Cardinal. “He loved to live life.”
Marko was new to the group. According to her friends, she had recently met Rivington and was just starting a friendship with him.
Marko was due to graduate from Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School this year. She had recently completed a three-month exchange program in Switzerland and easily befriended everyone she met.
“Ginny was genuine. She was friends with a lot of people and she was innocent, calm and smart,” said Valerie Matte, 17, one of Marko’s friends. “She was a really nice person and she didn’t deserve this at all.”
According to friends, Rivington was having a house-warming party at his new home Saturday night. Because he had just received the keys, he hadn’t even had time to move in furniture or put up window dressings.
The group left the house early Sunday in a blue Chevrolet Silverado 4X4. They were travelling on Heuvelmans Road when the crash occurred. Police would not confirm who was driving.
An Ottawa fireman, who was among the first responders to the scene, told the Ottawa Citizen newspaper the truck appeared to have rolled several times after it left the gravel road.
The truck was destroyed and debris and tools littered the roadway as police sifted through the wreckage.
Police have not said whether alcohol was a factor in the crash.
20 SEP 09 - 5:00pmHere's what staff at Education for the Driving Masses.com know:
The victims are from the greater Ottawa area.
All three killed were teenagers that included two 19 year old males and a 16 year old girl.
The crash happened around 1:45 am and all three victims were pronounced dead by a coroner at the scene.
The lone survivor of the crash is an 18-year-old female. She's in hospital being treated for injuries not considered life-threatening.
Friends and classmates on Facebook have identified the victims as Brad Rivington, Chris Sabean and Ginny Marko. A Facebook page appeared online around noon today [20 SEP 09] called, "RIP, Brad Rivington, Chris Sabean, and Ginny Marko" and over 500 people have joined to mourn those killed.
The cause of the crash remains unknown and police won't confirm what role fatigue, driver distraction, driver error, speed or inexperience played as the investigation is on-going.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call Ottawa police at 613-236-1222, ext. 2481.
A one-vehicle crash near Navan early Sunday morning has left three people dead and sent a woman in hospital with undetermined injuries.Photograph by: Mike Carroccetto, The Ottawa Citizen
Ottawa Citizen
ONTARIO - A one-vehicle crash near Navan early Sunday morning has left three people dead and sent a woman to hospital with "severe" injuries.
The driver of a blue Chevrolet Silverado 4X4 truck crashed on Heuvelmans Road and rolled it, crushing the cab.
An Ottawa fireman who was among first responders at the scene told the Citizen that the truck appeared to have rolled several times after leaving the gravel road. The firefighter, who asked to remain unidentified, said the truck appeared to have been heading south, about one kilometre south of Colonial Road, when the crash occurred.
All the victims are believed to be teenagers or in their 20s, the Citizen was told.
Heuvelmans Road was to remain closed between Colonial and Magladry roads until about 10:30 a.m., police said in a release. Anyone with information that could assist the investigators is asked to call the police collision investigations unit at 613-236-1222, ext. 2481.
THIS STORY IS CLOSED TO FURTHER COMMENTING.
Out of respect for those grieving, we are not allowing any further comments at this time. If you feel this is our attempt to censor you, please visit the CBC website where commentary is on-going.
If you disagree with our position to close comments down on this story or would like to contribute an opinion, please send a letter to the editor [editor@educationforthedrivingmasses.com] and we will publish your email in our mailbag section.
Education for the driving [m]asses: Tip 136 - How to drive with farm equipment sharing the road with you
MAKE NOTE: Staff at Education for the Driving Masses.com have confirmed that the tips, traffic rules and advice offered in this video apply in all provinces and territories in Canada. If you encounter a slow moving farm vehicle, you are expected to adjust your speed to the speed of that vehicle as you drive behind it. And like when passing any vehicle, are only permitted to pass when the center line is dotted and it is safe to do so.
Thank you to those who pointed this out.
SHARE THE ROAD.
“Farmers have the same legal right to use public roads to operate their machinery as you do in your motor vehicle,” says S/Sgt. Jim Griepsma, “Farmers often have to drive their machinery on public roads to get from field to field, both night and day, especially during spring planting and fall harvest. We are asking motorists to slow down and be patient.”
The following are some safety tips to observe when coming across farm machinery on rural roads:
1. Watch for farm machinery and recognize slow moving vehicles on the road. They come in a large variety of shapes and sizes. A good road safety rule is to look for an orange triangle emblem on the back of any vehicle you don't recognize. Use caution when you see the triangle, which indicates a slow moving vehicle.
2. Know that most farm equipment travels under 40km/hr. If you're traveling 80 km/hr, you can cover a football field's length in only a few seconds. To avoid collision, slow your vehicle as soon as you see farm equipment in the road. Be prepared to stop at all times.
3. Watch for turn signals. Farm vehicles don’t always have brake lights or turn signals, and many farmers use hand signals to show their intentions. Left arm out, in a 90 degree angle with the fingers facing skyward indicates a right turn. Left arm straight out shows a planned left turn. Left arm in a 90 degree angle, fingers pointing to the ground means the farmer is about to stop.
4. Be aware that farmers with long or wide equipment must sometimes swing wide (like a semi truck) to make left turns. If a tractor swings to the right, don't attempt to pass. It may still be turning left.
5. Remember the farmer has an important job – growing your food! He's not there to inconvenience you. The farmer may be unable to pull off the road due to equipment weight or road shoulder conditions. Be patient and wait for a safe opportunity to pass.
6. Give farmers a wide berth when passing. Some farm equipment takes up more than one travel lane. Machinery that is half on the road and half on the shoulder may suddenly move completely onto the road as the machinery approaches mailboxes or other obstructions along the shoulder. Often there are odd pieces protruding from the tractor. They can be difficult to see. Do not pass and then slow down or stop directly in front of the farm vehicle. Large equipment can't brake as quickly as a car.
Remember, be courteous, just as you would with any other vehicle on the road. Common sense is the primary factor in travel safety.
Read more Education for the driving [m]asses: Tips
Moose Strike
ONTARIO - Earlier this week a motorist was traveling eastbound on Highway #118 west of Carnarvon when his BMW station wagon struck a moose that was on the roadway. The driver was uninjured in the collision. The vehicle was severely damaged as a result of the collision.
Haliburton Highlands OPP Photo
Trial into deadly Calgary crash put on hold (Again)
Calgary Sun
ALBERTA - Lawyers in the case of a city man charged with mowing down a Calgary mom and her wheelchair-bound son aren't yet ready to go to trial.
Defence counsel Steve Wojick appeared briefly in Court of Queen's Bench yesterday to seek an adjournment in entering the plea of his client, Darren Coupal.
Wojick told Justice Earl Wilson he has recently met with Crown prosecutor Paul Mason and the two sides are still in pre-trial discussions.
Wilson agreed to adjourn the case to Oct. 9, when he expects Coupal to enter pleas on several charges, including impaired driving causing death. Coupal is charged in connection with an April 30, 2008, crash in the city's Bridlewood community which killed Linda Davey.
RELATED
Trial delayed in hit and run case that killed Linda Davey, 42 last April
Driver, bars sued for $13M over death of pedestrian
Two youths injure themselves in Severn Twp street racing crash
The Orillia Packet & Times
ONTARIO - Two youths were taken to hospital and charged after a crash Thursday night in Severn Township.
Orillia OPP responded about 7:30 p. m. to the two-vehicle collision on Brodie Drive.
A witness saw the two vehicles driving at high rates of speed. One vehicle attempted to pass the other on a blind curve and the driver lost control of the vehicle. As a result, this vehicle rolled into the ditch. The second vehicle also lost control and went into the ditch.
Two 16-year-old boys were taken to hospital with minor injuries and later released.
The boys, one from Coldwater and the other from Orillia, have been charged with careless driving and racing a motor vehicle. Both received a seven-day licence suspension and both vehicles have been impounded.
Falls five-year-old struck by tow truck in critical condition
Niagara Falls Review
ONTARIO - A five-year-old Niagara Falls boy is in critical condition following an incident involving a tow truck, Friday evening.
The incident happened around 6:40 p.m. near the boy's Spring Blossom Drive home.
According to Niagara Regional Police, the boy ran from the south side of the road to the north side, toward his home, and was struck by a tow truck.
Several bystanders, including the victim's parents, came to his assistance. He was taken by ambulance to Greater Niagara General Hospital and later transferred to Hamilton Health Sciences Centre (McMaster Site).
The boy, whose name has not been released by police, is presently listed in critical condition.
The collision remains under investigation by members of the NRP's collision reconstruction unit.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police at 905-688-4111, ext. 5550.
Sarnia police seek witnesses after man hurt in crash
London Free Press
ONTARIO - Sarnia police are asking for the public’s help after a man was seriously hurt while riding his electric bicycle just before 5 p.m. Saturday.
Police said the man was on East Street, just south of Confederation Street when the bicycle collided with a parked vehicle.
He was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call Sarnia police’s traffic division at 519-344-8861 ext. 6120.
South Huron teen, 16, dead after incident where sofa falls off pickup
London Free Press
ONTARIO - A 16-year-old boy is dead after a crash on private property in South Huron.
Ontario Provincial Police said a 16-year-old boy was driving a pickup truck while another 16-year-old boy was sitting on a sofa on the box of the truck about 6 p.m. Saturday when the sofa and the teen fell off the back.
He was taken to South Huron hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police are investigating and have not released the identity of the boy.
Now, isn't this a sad case of driving at the speed of stupid?
It's interesting to have read this story having happened in Huron County as it is strikingly familiar to another incident that happened in April.
It's all fun and games until the couch falls off the chassis ... more general stupidity
To summarize:
ONTARIO - A group of teenagers learned a hard lesson last Saturday about the saying "it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye, or breaks a leg."On April 4th, 2009 at approximately 8:00 pm, Huron OPP officers were dispatched to a residence on London Road in Bluewater in response to a report of a two teenagers injured in a collision on private property.An investigation revealed that a group of friends decided to drive a 1953 GMC pickup truck around the property. The truck did not have a box on the chassis so a sofa was placed on the chassis for riders to sit on.The group drove around the property a few times before the sofa fell off and four riders went with it.One 17 year old female suffered broken bones and one 17 year old male suffered serious injuries.The male was taken to the London Health Sciences Centre for treatment and remains in critical condition in hospital.
Update: Tay Township crash leaves one dead
OPP Media Release
POLICE IDENTIFY VICTIMS IN WEEKEND FATALITIES
ONTARIO - Late Friday evening, officers from the Southern Georgian Bay Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated two serious motor vehicle collisions which resulted in the deaths of three people.
On Highway 12, east of Rumney Road, a 2 vehicle head-on collision claimed the life of 43-year old John Edward PERRON of Severn Township.
Post mortem examination is scheduled for later today at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, and this collision remains under investigation at this time.
ONTARIO - On Friday September 18, 2009, police officers responded to a report of a motor vehicle collision on Highway 12 in Tay Township.
This collision happened 500 meters east of Rumney Road, involving two motor vehicles that were involved in a head-on collision. One of the vehicles reportedly burst into flames after the impact and the driver of that motor vehicle had been pronounced dead at the scene.
The identities of the victim will not be released pending the notification of next of kin.
Cambridge man, 36, seriously injured in Hwy 24 crash
The Record
ONTARIO - A 36-year-old Cambridge man is fighting for his life in a Hamilton hospital after crashing his vehicle south of the city early Saturday.
Cambridge OPP said a Kia heading north on Highway 24 about 4 a.m. lost control, left the road and crashed into some trees south of Footbridge Road in North Dumfries Township.
Fire and rescue crews took about 30 minutes to remove the lone occupant from the vehicle. He was taken to Cambridge Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries and then airlifted to Hamilton General Hospital.
Police are asking any witnesses to call them at 519-654-0150 or 1-888-310-1122.
Man critical after losing control of car in Rigaud
Montreal Gazette
QUEBEC - A 19-year-old man was in critical condition in a hospital Saturday night after he lost control of his car on Highway 40 westbound in Rigaud, about 60 kilometres west of Montreal.
The man’s car hit a guardrail and ended up in a ditch about 7:40 a.m. Saturday.
Sûreté du Québec Sgt. Gregory Gomez del Pradro said police discovered the man outside of his car when they arrived on the scene, but didn’t know if the man was ejected.
Police are continuing their investigation.