Wrong-way drunk driver kills 1 in highway crash

Ontario Provincial Police confirmed that a 31-year-old man from St. Catharines was killed in a wrong way crash on Oct. 21. According to police, an attempt was made to intercept the wrong-way vehicle prior to the two-car accident. The collision occurred before the police were able to stop the negligent driver.

Police were alerted to the presence of the wrong-way driver when a 911 call came in at 5:12 a.m. The caller reported seeing a blue Toyota Tundra travelling in the opposite direction of traffic along the QEW, going towards Niagara. Approximately one minute later, the Toyota collided head-on with a Buick sedan near the intersection of Fifty Road.

The driver of the Buick was declared dead at the scene of the crash, and the Toyota driver was taken to Hamilton General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The 28-year-old man from Toronto, who was driving the Toyota, has since been charged for impaired driving causing death. Police said that, in addition to the fatality, the drunk driving accident caused thousands of people to be stuck in traffic, as all of the Niagara-bound lanes in the area had to be shut down.

In addition to the emotional loss, family members of a person who was killed by a drunk driver often suffer from a devastating financial loss. People in this situation may choose to file a wrongful death claim in order to recover some reimbursement for their sudden economic hardship. A lawyer may be able to help family members gather evidence for their claim and seek compensation for loss of financial support. That lawyer may represent the interests of his or her client in court or during settlement negotiations with the defendant.

Source: St. Catharines Standard, “UPDATE: Police name victim in QEW wrong-way crash,” Bill Sawchuk, Oct. 21, 2014