Friday, April 22, 2005

Driver Charged in Grader/Truck Collision

Laird Twp, Ont., The driver of a transport truck involved in a collision with a road grader this morning has been charged with Careless Driving.

This morning at about 8:00 a.m. a transport truck and the grader were both westbound on Hwy 17 near Calabogie Road in Laird Twp. The truck driver was searching for an article in the cab of his truck when he slipped off his seat. By the time he got back on the seat it was too late to avoid the road grader. The truck drove into the back of the slow moving grader and forced the grader into the medium strip between the lanes.

As a result of the collision seventy one (71) year old Sterling SMITH of Winnipeg Manitoba has been charged with Careless Driving under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario.

The driver of the grader has been identified as forty one (41) year old Raymond FORD of Richard’s Landing, Ontario.

Both men were treated at the scene by ambulance personnel for minor injuries and were not taken to the hospital.

Drivers Beware - Speed Limit Change

(Algoma Mills, Ont.) In the summer of 2004 the Township had received complaints of speeding in their subdivisions. The concerns stemmed from the children playing in the area and adjacent to the road. As a result the speed limit was reduced from 50 km/h to 30 km/h.

East Algoma O.P.P. have been advised of recent complaints of motorists not complying with the speed limit and have been asked to take enforcement action where necessary.

Update To Grader-Transport Collision/HWY 17

Laird Twp, Ont., One full lane of Hwy 17 in Laird Twp, east of Echo Bay has been re-opened to traffic after a transport and a road grader collided earlier this morning.

At about 8;00 a.m. this morning the grader and the transport were both westbound on Highway 17 in Laird Township. The truck driver was looking away from the roadway attempting to search for an article within the cab of the truck. The driver advised police that he while searching for the article he slipped off the drivers seat. When he got back in the seat it was too late to avoid the grader and the truck ran into the back of the grader.

Both the truck driver and the grader operator were treated at the scene by ambulance personnel for minor injuries. Neither one was taken to hospital for treatment.

The transport has been towed off the highway and removal crews are now waiting for a float truck to arrive to remove the grader. Police anticipate the wreckage to be removed within the next two hours and the both westbound lanes of the highway should be re-opened to traffic.

A charge of Careless Driving has been laid against the truck driver. Further information on the identity of the involved persons will be released late this afternoon.


Collision East Of Echo Bay Causing Traffic Slow Down

Laird Twp, Ont., Sault Ste Marie OPP and ambulance personnel are at the scene of a collision on
Hwy 17 at Calabogie Road in Laird Twp, east of Echo Bay.

Preliminary reports from the scene indicate that at about 7:55 a.m., this morning,
a tractor trailer and a road grader collided at near the intersection. The westbound lanes of Hwy 17 at the collision scene are partially blocked. Traffic is using part of the gravel shoulder to get around the scene.

Police are reporting one person with minor injuries. It is unknown if the injured person was in the grader or transport. Further information on Hwy restrictions and the collision will be distributed when they become available

Minor Collision

Goulais River, Ont., OPP in Sault Ste Marie were sent to a collision near the Goulais River Bridge on Pineshores Road yesterday afternoon.

At about 2:30 p.m. a car was approaching the one lane Bailey bridge, that crosses the Goulais River, near Pineshores Road. The driver indicated that he had a mechanical problem with his vehicle and he was unable to slow down enough to make the turn onto the bridge. The vehicle went into the ditch at the approach to the bridge. There was minor damage to the car and no one was injured. At no time was the car or driver in any danger of going into the river.


Grass Fire

Batchawana First Nation, Ont., The Batchawana First Nation Police and the Sault Ste Marie Fire Department responded to a grass fire on Frontenac Street yesterday afternoon.

At about 1:00 p.m. a grass fire was burning close to a gas station on the Territory. The Fire Department extinguished the fire with little problem.