After responding to three calls in only six hours on Sunday, St. Paul Fire Chief Trevor Kotowich is reminding motorists that extra caution is needed on the roads now that the first snowfall of the season has arrived.
After responding to three calls in only six hours on Sunday, St. Paul Fire Chief Trevor Kotowich is reminding motorists that extra caution is needed on the roads now that the first snowfall of the season has arrived.
“It was a gongshow,&” says Kotowich, when speaking of Sunday's incidents. The first two calls occurred in the late afternoon and early evening, one along Highway 881 south, and the other along Highway 881 north.
The third incident involved a fatality on Highway 28. St. Paul RCMP responded to a complaint of a fatal two-vehicle collision on Highway 28 near range road 104, between the communities of Ashmont and Mallaig, at about 10:15 p.m. on Nov. 8.
One person died and another was seriously injured.
“St. Paul RCMP detachment members along with a traffic reconstructionist continue to investigate,&” according to a media release received at about midnight, between Sunday and Monday morning. “Road conditions are poor at this time due to precipitation on the roads.&” The highway was closed for a period of time while an investigation took place.
The 25-year-old driver of a Toyota Camry was pronounced deceased at the scene. His name is not being released. A 52-year-old male passenger was taken to hospital in critical condition, and his condition remains unknown. The two occupants of a pickup truck also involved in the collision were uninjured.
“It seems like every year it's the same thing,&” says Kotowich. “The roads weren't the best, but it's the first snowfall,&” he adds.
Leaving early and taking extra time to travel while slowing down, are keys to keeping safe on winter highways. And of course, if road conditions aren't good, then the best advice Kotowich has to offer is to stay home.
“If you don't have to travel, then don't.&”
Aside from the serious injuries and fatalities that can occur, Kotowich says it's important for motorists to slow down near accident scenes to ensure the safety of the emergency workers who are tending to the collisions.
“Please slow down,&” says Kotowich. He noted that one of yesterday's incidents proved especially concerning. The speed that passing vehicles were going through the accident area was “alarming.&”
He notes that often, emergency workers aren't paying attention to the other traffic while tending to an accident scene, so it's important that the traffic pays attention to them.
The final tip Kotowich would like to drive home is to remind motorists to make sure their vehicles are winter-ready and stocked with extra items to keep warm in case they find themselves sitting in the ditch waiting.
