Emergency officials update Hampstead crash
Posted Feb 7, 2012 03:36:37 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The County of Perth continues to deal with yesterday’s horrific crash in Hampstead.
Mayor Ian Forrest called a press conference at the municipal office in the Township of East Perth to give an update on the crash that claimed 11 lives. Present were a number of people, including officials from EMS, OPP and Fire.
11 people were killed, almost instantly in the crash along Perth Road 107 and Line 47 north east of Stratford, last night.
A flat bed truck was travelling along road 107 when it collided with a van, carrying 13 migrant workers. Both vehicles then slid across a nearby lawn and after all was cleared, all that remained were deep tire tracks in the grass.
EMS Chief for Perth County, Linda Rockwood says it’s a miracle anyone survived this crash,”I believe that yes, it is a miracle. The firefighters were pulling them out and it was one after the other. One would come and then another would come. It was difficult for staff, for firefighters, EMS and OPP that were responding.”
Township of Perth East Fire Chief Bill Hunter was one of the first on scene, “Yeah, it was a very trying scene yesterday. I’m very proud with the way the Shakespeare Fire Station firefighters performed. It was a difficult extrication, and they did a fantastic job. Did the best that they could do.”
OPP spokesperson Kees Wijnands says they are having a difficult time being able to identify all 10 migrant workers from Peru who died in the crash, “Identity of next of kin is the big issue here and continues to be an issue, and therefore, that is gonna really affect us in putting out information. Information that we want to give out.”
As for the 3 surviving migrant workers, one was airlifted to hospital in Hamilton with life threatening injuries. Another was taken to Stratford and one to London, both with serious injuries.
The driver of the truck has been identified as 38 year old Christopher Fulton of London, he worked for Speedy Transport out of Brampton and that company issued the following statement this morning.
To whom it may concern,
A Speedy Transport owner operator whose name is being respectfully withheld was involved in a fatal collision in Hampstead, Ontario at approximately 4:45pm EST on February 6th, 2012. Per our correspondence with the OPP, a passenger van travelling westbound on Line 47 carrying multiple occupants failed to stop and was struck by our vehicle travelling south on County Road 107. Per the officer, the Speedy Transport driver tried to avoid the passenger van but was unable to do so resulting in his own death.
Our thoughts and prayers are with our driver’s family and the families of the other victims involved in this horrible tragedy.
This is the first fatality we’ve experienced on the road since inception. Please respect the privacy of all Speedy Transport personnel as we mourn the loss of a family member.
Respectfully,
Jared Martin, CEO, Speedy Transport Group, Inc.
