Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
A 43-year-old man is deceased following a collision that occurred yesterday afternoon on the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) near the exit to Butter Pot Park.
Shortly after 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, Holyrood RCMP received a report of the collision and attended the scene. A vehicle traveling eastbound on the TCH departed the roadway, drove over the median and crashed head-on into a westbound vehicle.
The driver of the eastbound vehicle died at the scene. The driver of the westbound vehicle was transported to the Health Sciences Centre in St. John’s with injuries that are believed to be non-life-threatening.
The TCH was reduced to one lane of travel for a number of hours as police officers conducted an examination of the scene. During this time, five drivers were ticketed under the Highway Traffic Act; four drivers were using cell phones, some to take images of the crash, and one driver was not wearing a seat belt. Using a cell phone while driving, especially through a collision scene, puts others, including first responders, at serious and unnecessary risk.
A Collision Reconstructionist with RCMP Traffic Services attended the scene. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is engaged and the investigation is continuing.