(TRENT HILLS, ON) –On November 22, 2015 at 6:28pm an officer from the Northumberland Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) was investigating a single motor vehicle collision on County Road 30 at the Trent River Bridge.
While stopped with the emergency lights activated, a Chev Astro van rear ended the police vehicle pushing it into the disabled pickup truck from the original collision. Three passengers from the original collision were inside the police vehicle when it was struck. They were transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance for treatment to minor injuries. The officer, a tow truck operator and the driver of the truck were on the roadway at the time of the collision and were not injured.
The driver of the second vehicle, a 59 year old woman from Havelock, Ontario, was charged with Fail to slow down and proceed with caution for emergency vehicle and tow truck contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.
The law in Ontario requires drivers to slow down and proceed with caution when approaching an emergency vehicle parked on the side of the highway with its lights activated (including tow trucks). If the highway has more than one lane, the law requires the driver to move over and leave one lane between their vehicle and the parked emergency vehicle when it can be done safely. Failure to do so can result in fines from $400 to $2,000 and three demerit points for a first offence.
It is the responsibility of all licensed motorists to be aware of and comply with Ontario’s Move Over Law.
Be aware, slow down and save lives.
