Separate accidents on Hwy. 400 claim 2 lives in less than 1 day

Two fatal traffic accidents occurred on Ontario’s Highway 400 within a few hours of each other, beginning around 11 p.m. on Aug. 6 when a motorcyclist died in a single-vehicle crash. Around 4 a.m. the following day, an 82-year-old Vaughan woman was struck and killed by an apparent hit-and-run driver.

Following the motorcycle accident, the southbound lanes of Highway 400 were closed for several hours in the vicinity of Highway 401. The hit-and-run pedestrian accident caused lane closures for about five hours. One constable stated that even the alternate routes were congested and that it would take some time for traffic to clear.

In the hit-and-run, police report that the woman, who had been reported as missing since the previous night, was found lying beside the road in serious condition. Emergency personnel tried to transport her to the hospital for treatment, but she died from her injuries while en route. Police are now looking for a grey Ford SUV with damage to its passenger side. According to a police sergeant, it was dark at that time of morning in the area where the accident occurred, and the driver of the vehicle might not have realized that he or she hit someone.

Families of fatal car accident victims often have to cover final expenses and may suffer in a number of other ways, including experiencing a loss of financial support and a loss of companionship. Anyone who has lost a loved one in a car accident or because of other tragic circumstances may want to consult with a lawyer to see if it would be possible to seek compensation by filing a wrongful death claim. If so, the lawyer could file the claim and represent the family in any proceedings.

Source: National Post, “Ontario police searching for grey SUV after 82-year-old killed in Highway 400 hit-and-run”, Alex Jivov, Aug. 7, 2014