Members of the Upper Ottawa Valley (UOV) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have taken action against the driver of a motor vehicle following a significant collision on Highway 17.
The incident unfolded on September 25, 2023, around 12:00 p.m. on Highway 17, situated between Highway 41 and Sawmill Road. Reports indicated that an eastbound passenger vehicle collided with an eastbound cyclist.
The cyclist, a 63-year-old individual from Germany, sustained severe injuries and was promptly transported to the hospital by Renfrew County Paramedics. Later, the victim was transferred to an Ottawa-area hospital, where they continue to battle life-threatening, life-altering injuries. Fortunately, the driver, who was the sole occupant of the motor vehicle, emerged from the collision unscathed.
On March 25, 2024, the OPP charged the 34-year-old driver from Cobden with careless driving causing bodily harm under the Highway Traffic Act. The accused is set to appear in Provincial Offences Court in Pembroke on April 22, 2024.
Following the collision, a portion of Highway 17 remained closed between Highway 41 and Sawmill Road for approximately eight hours to facilitate investigation and cleanup efforts. The OPP enlisted the support of a Collision Reconstructionist and members of the Technical Collision Investigation (TCI) team to aid in the thorough examination of the incident.
(Written by: Emma Butler)