(TOWNSHIP OF PERTH SOUTH, ON) On Friday August 20, 2010 shortly after 9:30 p.m. Perth County OPP officers were called to a serious two vehicle crash on Perth Road 130 just north of Perth Line 20.
A southbound pickup truck on Perth Road 130 made a left turn into a private driveway on the east side of the road directly in the path of a northbound motorcycle. The two vehicles collided causing the motorcycle driver and passenger to be thrown from the machine. Perth County Ambulance personnel attended and transported the male driver and the female passenger of the motorcycle to the Stratford General Hospital. At the hospital the male succumbed to his injuries while the female was treated and subsequently transported by air ambulance to London’s Victoria Hospital where she is in serious but stable condition.
The deceased motorcyclist is identified as 45 year old James VanHorn of the Municipality of West Perth. The female passenger is identified as 39 year old Jennifer VanHorn of the Township of Perth South.
Police located the uninjured driver of the pickup truck. It was found that he had been drinking prior to the crash. He was arrested and was transported to the Stratford Police Station where he provided 2 breath samples into the Intoxilyzer. Results of these tests were in excess of .80 mgs.
Kyle Lefrancois (21) from the Township of Perth South is charged with having in excess of eighty milligrams of blood alcohol in one hundred millilitres of blood causing death, having in excess of eighty milligrams of blood alcohol in one hundred millilitres of blood causing bodily harm, failing to remain at the scene causing death, failing to remain at the scene causing bodily harm, criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm. In addition, he has been charged with driving a motor vehicle without a required ignition interlock device
Mr. Lefrancois is in custody awaiting a bail hearing.
Perth Road 130 remained closed until the early hours of Saturday morning to allow for the OPP Western Region Traffic Collision Investigation Unit to complete its investigation into the collision.