Number of fatalities up in accidents last year, police report

NEWLY COMPILED FIGURES FOR 2016 saw a rise in fatalities on roads, waterways and trails patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police.

A total of 307 people were killed in motor-vehicle collisions in 2016, marking a four-year high. The OPP investigated 67,372 motor-vehicle collisions in 2016, down from 2015 (69,934 collisions).

Marking another fouryear high are the 275 collisions that resulted in fatalities.

Of last year’s crashes, 11,506 of them resulted in injuries, police report. The majority (55,591) were property damage collisions with no injuries sustained.

While last year marked fewer collisions involving motorcycles than in the previous year, there was little change in the number of deaths. The OPP responded to 749 motorcycle crashes in 2016 which resulted in 33 fatalities, down from 35 in 2015. Speeding and losing control continue to be common contributing factors, police say.

Last year marked the highest number of pedestrian deaths in more than 12 years, with 39 deaths. There were 25 such deaths in 2015. The year 2009 was the last time the number exceeded 30.

APRIL 22

5:40 PM | Wellington County OPP were called to the scene of a single-vehicle collision on Fourth Line East in the Township of Pilkington. Officers arrived on scene and located a female driver of a 2011 Hyundai Tucson. The vehicle had left the roadway, went over a ditch and struck a hydro pole. While speaking with the female driver, officers believed her to be impaired by alcohol. She was arrested and brought to a local detachment for further testing. As a result, a 34-year-old Guelph woman was charged with ‘over 80 mgs’ and ‘impaired driving.’ She is scheduled to appear in Guelph Criminal Court on May 16. Her driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days and the vehicle impounded for a period of seven days. 9:00 PM | A 47-year-old Moorefield man was charged with ‘driving with over 80 mgs of alcohol in 100 ml of blood’ after a traffic stop in the Town of Minto. While speaking with the driver, the OPP officer detected the odour of alcohol on his breath. The driver was arrested after failing the roadside screening test, and was transported to a local OPP centre for further testing. The driver is to appear in Guelph Criminal Court on May 5 to answer to the charge. His driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days and the vehicle impounded for seven days.

APRIL 24

6:30 PM | Waterloo Regional Police responded to a collision on Victoria Street North in Breslau where an eastbound Mazda SUV, driven by a 55-year-old Guelph woman, left the road and drove through the grass ditch, striking a parking block and flipping back onto the shoulder. Although the vehicle received extensive damage, the lone occupant suffered only minor cuts to her hands and did not require further medical treatment. Traffic services attended the scene, investigated the collision and were assisted by a number of witnesses who stayed and provided information. As a result of the investigation, the woman was charged with ‘careless driving.’