Family speaks out after second fatal crash
Nancy Ouellette was killed during her morning walk when hit by waste management truck
KITCHENER — Benjamin Ouellette takes a moment to compose himself before talking about his mother.
There’s silence on the other end of the line as he slowly starts to open up about the day his family’s life was turned upside down.
His mother, Nancy Ouellette, was walking her dog, Lady, along Tuerr Drive in Kitchener last July 14, on her regular morning route, when she was hit by a waste management truck while crossing the road toward Countryside Crescent.
The family was later told from police reports the driver unknowingly dragged both Ouellette and the dog as it made stops at two more houses. They were told a neighbour’s screams finally got the driver’s attention.
Both Ouellette and the dog were killed in the accident.
“When the media reports that a 68year-old woman has died, it’s so much more than that,” said her son. “She was a mother, a grandmother, a sister, a wife. She was someone who impacted her community in ways that just aren’t quantifiable.”
A 29-year-old Cambridge man has since been charged with two Highway Traffic Act offences, careless driving causing death and an unsafe start from a stopped position.
But, seven months later, news broke last Thursday of a second fatal accident in Kitchener involving a waste management truck. Early details of the crash sounded eerily familiar for the Ouellette family.
Waterloo Regional Police reported that a 77-year-old woman was struck and killed by a waste management truck. Weather has been ruled out as a factor, and the investigation is ongoing.
“The similarity between the two instances is uncanny,” said Benjamin Ouellette. “The age group, the gender of the person, the timing — it was quite the shocking story to read because of how similar it was.”
The waste management trucks involved in both accidents are operated by Miller Waste Systems.
The company, which is based out of Markham, was awarded a seven-year, $14-million contract in 2017 to collect garbage, organics, bulky and large metal items, recycling, yard waste and Christmas trees in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge.
The region was previously served by Waste Management of Canada for 15 years. During the announcement of the change in 2017, the region stated the contract was awarded purely based on the lower cost, not on the past performance of the former provider.
TJ Flynn, spokesperson for the region, said Wednesday they extend their deepest condolences to the loved ones of those impacted in both crashes. “The safest delivery of services is an absolute goal and requirement for the Region of Waterloo, for our organization and for our contractors,” he said. “When hiring contractors, we follow stringent procurement policies and ensure that we properly and appropriately vet contractors that provide service to the region.”
The Ouellette family is hopeful the region will hold Miller Waste accountable and request to see how it is making strides to make its operation safer.
They are also hopeful the region can run a public awareness campaign about the dangers these types of vehicles pose on the road to pedestrians.
After last week’s crash, Miller Waste sent the Waterloo Region Record a prepared statement.
“We are committed to providing a safe work environment for our employees and ensuring the safety of the communities we serve. We will apply any key learnings from this incident to the training we provide to our people,” the statement reads.
The company has not yet responded to a request asking if it had changed any of its safety procedures as a result of the first crash.
“With one incident, you can get by and try to understand that it was an accident and accidents happen,” said Ouellette. “But within seven months for it to happen again in the exact same way, what is going on here?”