Driver charged in Mountain crash
‘The woman crawled out somehow,’ says Good Samaritan who stopped to help
Police say a driver involved a twovehicle crash on Hamilton Mountain early Saturday faces a slew of charges, including flight from police and failing to remain at the scene.
Emergency crews were called to Upper Sherman and Queensdale Ave. around 10:30 a.m. when a Chevy Uplander collided with a second vehicle, with two occupants inside.
The Uplander rolled into a light pole and came to rest, crumpled on the sidewalk.
The woman was able to get out of the wreckage.
“It was not a good scene,” said Tracy Vrkljan, a Good Samaritan who drove by and got out to help.
Vrkljan happens to work with Victim Assistance, a group of specially trained volunteers who help people cope during a crisis including serious or fatal crashes. She’s called to scenes that the Ontario Provincial Police Burlington detachment is called to.
Saturday, however, she was off duty and driving with her husband when she passed the wreckage just seconds after it happened.
Despite her experience at tragic scenes, the accident was still upsetting, Vrkljan said.
“My role is to support witnesses or victims at the scene,” she said. “I’m no stranger to it at all.
“There was no police or medics there yet.”
Vrkljan said she checked on all occupants. Everyone was out of their cars, including the female driver who struck the pole.
“The woman crawled out somehow. She was across the street.”
From that moment, the driver’s actions are unclear as police allege she fled.
“She left the scene and was arrested a short distance away,” said Hamilton police Staff Sgt. Robin Abbott.
She was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The accused is a 27-year-old woman from Hamilton. She’s charged with one count of flight from police, failing to remain at the scene, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, driving under suspension, and two counts of failing to comply with recognizance.