(ESSEX, ON) – Members of the Essex County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to eastbound lanes of Highway 401 approximately one kilometre east of the Comber exit around 6:30 p.m. on November 20, 2013 to investigate a collision.
Investigation revealed that two Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) members had conducted a traffic stop on the right shoulder of the 401 and were speaking to the driver when a tractor trailer ran onto the shoulder and struck the rear cruiser.
Two members of CKPS were injured as a result of the collision. Detective Constable Nelson Das Neves was transported to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. He remains in hospital. Staff Sergeant Kirk Earley was taken to an area hospital where he was treated and released.
Members of the Essex County OPP Technical Collision Investigation unit were on scene for several hours investigating the collision scene. The OPP has charged 30-year-old Parminder Singh DHANQA from Brampton Ontario with Careless Driving contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.
The 401 was re-opened early this morning. Police remind all drivers of the importance of slowing down and pulling to the left whenever emergency service workers are at the side of the road. Police also remind the motoring public of the importance of always paying attention to your surroundings.