On February 10, 2017 at 8:40pm a member of the Northumberland detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was positioned at the side of Highway 401 west of Colborne assisting a motorist who had been involved in an earlier collision. The cruiser had its full emergency lighting activated.
Two westbound tractor-trailers were approaching the area in separate lanes in close proximity to each other. One truck attempted to move over into the left lane and collided with the other truck that was already in that lane. The driver attempting to move over lost control of his rig striking the cruiser at the rear forcing it into the car that the officer was assisting. Both vehicles were forced into the ditch and the tractor-trailer became engulfed in flames.
The officer suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital. The other involved drivers were not injured.
The transport truck driver, Terry AUSTIN age 44 of Etobicoke, Ontario is charged with Careless Driving and Fail to slow down and proceed with caution for emergency vehicle or tow truck.
The westbound lanes of Highway 401 were closed for approximately 2.5 hours to allow for the investigation and removal of affected vehicles.
A police officer is in hospital with minor injuries and charges have been laid against a truck driver said to be responsible for a fiery crash that closed the westbound 401 in Colborne Friday night.
Northumberland OPP Constable Steve Bates confirmed emergency response crews were called at 8:40 p.m. to a collision involving two tractor trailers, a police cruiser and a vehicle at Big Apple Drive.
Bates said the female officer was stopped at the side of the road tending to a collision involving a vehicle that had spun into the ditch when her car was hit by a tractor trailer.
He said the officer was the only one injured in the crash.
The truck driver from Toronto was charged with careless driving and failing to move over.
The investigation is ongoing.
The westbound lanes at Big Apple Drive in Colborne remain closed and it’s unknown when they will reopen.
