A well-known figure in Canada’s drag racing community was killed in a crash on Highway 401 early Wednesday morning.
Around 12:30 a.m., Oxford County OPP, Drumbo firefighters and EMS were called out to a crash between two transport trucks on the 401 near where it crosses Township Road 8, between Drumbo and Ayr.
Dale Boeru, a Kitchener resident who was driving one of the trucks, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The other driver was sent to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Eastbound lanes were closed for more than seven hours as police investigated the crash, but two lanes reopened shortly after 9 a.m.
One lane remained closed until later afternoon to a diesel spill from one of the trucks.
Boeru, 51, was known in drag racing circles as the owner of the National Drag Racing Association series and Canadian Drag Racing Magazine.
Dale Hickey, the magazine’s editor, tells CTV News Boeru was an outgoing figure who found friendship and respect across the industry.
“Gregarious is the proper word,” Hickey says.
“He makes everybody feel welcome. Dale’s whole goal was … most of all, to give the grassroots drag racer a place to compete, have fun and making a couple of bucks.”
Family members tell CTV News Boeru was “quiet but passionate” and worked as a transport truck driver based out of Kitchener.
OPP tell CTV News they continue to investigate the cause of the crash.
