Shakespeare collisions lead to TV cameraman being sent to hospital
By Lee Griffi
A 65-year-old man was seriously injured after police say a driver passed a road closed barricade near Shakespeare and struck him last week.
The man injured was Dave Pettitt, a longtime cameraman with CTV in Kitchener. Pettitt was taking footage on the scene of a three-vehicle crash on Perth Line 34 between Perth Roads 102 and 104 last Thursday afternoon.
Pettitt was transported to Stratford General Hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries, but his family told CTV News his condition had stabilized by Friday.
OPP Sgt. Ed Sanchuk said there was another incident on the same road. Along with the CTV cameraman being seriously injured, there was another incident on Perth Line 34 in Perth East.
“We actually heard squealing tires at the other end where the road was closed, and a vehicle went through the barricades and hit a parked vehicle that was blocking the road. Very lucky because there were no injuries, but we had people stopping on the road asking for directions and almost causing yet another collision.”
Sanchuk said what drivers need to do is pull over on the shoulder, access a GPS device and find an alternate route to get where they are going. He added insurance companies may not cover any damage to a vehicle if it is involved in a collision on a closed road.
“Drivers need to slow down and pay attention so these unnecessary preventable collisions are avoided,” Sanchuk said. “Driving’s a privilege, not a right. Each and every time you get behind that wheel, always make sure that you put your safety as a priority and always pay attention to your surroundings.”
He added drivers need to understand a closed road sign means exactly what it says.
“We’re putting a reminder out to people that road closed signs mean just that. The road is closed for a police investigation, or something else is happening, such as a collision, but it’s mainly closed to keep everybody safe.”
Sanchuk said this wasn’t the first time recently a driver has ignored closed roads due to an emergency.
“At a fatal collision earlier in Norfolk County, we had an individual run into a road closed sign and flee from the area. That individual has since come forward and made a collision report, but I don’t know if any charges have been laid.”
He added the potential charges could vary from driving on a closed road to careless driving, or, depending on the driving behaviour leading up to a crash, charges could fall under the Criminal Code of Canada for dangerous operation.
“Each incident is unique, so that is where video surveillance comes in, with witnesses talking to police. We had an incident in Essex County, the same day as the Shakespeare incident, where an individual decided to drive around a marked police car with its lights flashing because the road was closed for a large working fire.”
Sanchuk said that vehicle then struck another police car parked on the side of the road.
“These collisions are entirely preventable and unnecessary. People need to realize when you come to a road closed sign, stop, turn around and find an alternate route. Certain people take certain ways every day, and we appreciate it could put a bit of a damper on the way you’re going, but again, the roads are closed to keep everyone safe.”
The Shakespeare investigation is ongoing, but there is no word yet on any charges being laid.
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