Tragic crash on Highway 12 claims young driver's life

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard

BROCK: A 23-year-old Sunderland resident was killed in a three-vehicle collision, on Highway 12, early Saturday morning, on October 24th. Two other drivers were taken to hospital with injuries.

Whitby OPP officers responded to the crash, shortly before 7 a.m., on Highway 12, north of Brock Concession Road 10, in the Township of Brock.

The 23-year-old, who was the lone occupant of one of the vehicles, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The lone occupant and driver of a second vehicle was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the third vehicle was taken to a Toronto-area trauma centre with serious, life-threatening injuries.

Highway 12 was closed, in both directions, for the duration of the police investigation.

The OPP Highway Safety Division Traffic Support Unit is assisting with the ongoing investigation.

Local resident, Shawn Wilson said, he heard emergency sirens heading north early Saturday morning.

“That's awful. It was supposed to be such a nice day. We just happened to be up early and heard the sirens heading north. It's heartbreaking,” Mr. Wilson said.

Sunderland’s Erika Harvey also lives nearby the area, and expressed concern for the families affected by the collision, drawing on her own experience of losing a cousin in a car accident.

“It seems to happen way too often. You feel horrible for the families involved. We lost my cousin in a car accident almost 30 years ago, and I still think about it every day,” Ms. Harvey added.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or has dash camera footage from the area, at the time of the crash, to contact Whitby OPP, at 905-668-3388 or 1-888-310-1122.

The investigation remains ongoing.