'It’s devastating': Community in mourning after fatal crash in Oxford County
The Township of East-Zorra Tavistock and the surrounding community are in mourning after a fatal crash took the lives of a police officer and a bus driver.
“Doing their jobs and tragically losing their lives. It’s just heartbreaking,” East Zorra-Tavistock Mayor Phil Schaefer said. “It’s devastating. Especially for anybody who knew these gentlemen.”
People in the community who spoke to CTV News Tuesday say they're taking time to remember the two men who died in the crash, OPP Det. Const. Steven Tourangeau and bus driver Dave Stewart.
“It was just really horrific and we’re certainly waiting on more details, because we hadn’t heard a lot of what caused it. But just a really sad and tragic loss of life,” Jasmine Moulton, a Woodstock resident, said.
“It’s very sad, and our hearts go out for the bus driver and for the police officer,” said Patty Swarts, who also lives in Woodstock.
“Awful, I’m glad there was no children on the bus,” Doris Blackmore said.
“Obviously very upsetting for the family. This is an ongoing event for this intersection,” Innerkip resident Joesy Fitzgeorge said.
The intersection where the crash happened, Highway 59 and Oxford Road 33, is known to people who live nearby as an extremely dangerous location.
“It seems like traffic is getting a lot busier, and certainly as a mom of two it’s really scary to think of, especially with a school bus, the thought of sending kids to school on busy roads,” Moulton said.
An aerial view shows the the scene of a crash on Oxford Road 33 and Highway 59 on Monday, May 29. (CTV Kitchener)
According to Oxford County, the intersection will become a four-way stop before the end of June. Those who use the road almost every day, said that will be a welcomed change.
“I personally know a few people that have been in accidents at that intersection. I take that intersection very frequently. It is very unsafe. You sometimes can’t see traffic. People are always flying up and down that road,” Fitzgeorge said.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of these two individuals. Hopefully now things can be changed and this can make a difference,” Fitzgeorge added.
While residents are encouraged by the planned change, many say even more safety features are needed, including potentially more warning signs or a roundabout.
“I think they don’t have enough stops coming east and west,” Swarts said.
Oxford County said it will continue monitoring traffic in the area to see if additional safety improvements are needed.
“Oxford County is listening to the community’s concerns and responding. We made some immediate adjustments in January and the remainder of the safety improvements to this intersection will be in place before the end of June. Through our ongoing technical study dating back to 2021, and in adherence to Ontario Ministry of Transportation guidelines, the current annual traffic volume and related factors do not meet the threshold level which triggers the requirement for a roundabout. Having said that, that is a potential future option pending changes in future vehicular traffic conditions. As we do across the County road network, we’ll continue to closely monitor traffic patterns and volume for this intersection on an annual basis and may need to undertake that option,” David Simpson, director of public works for Oxford County, said in an email.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.