Shortly after 3:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon, emergency crews responded to a two vehicle collision at the intersection of Kent Bridge Road at River Line.
A 56-year-old Ridgetown man was driving a transport truck southbound on Kent Bridge Road when he struck a 27-year-old Thamesville man driving a car westbound on River Line through the intersection.
The force of the collision sent the car into a hydro pole on the south east side of the intersection. The transport truck continued southbound, left the roadway, sheared off a hydro pole and flipped onto its passenger side. The driver was extricated with the assistance of fire personnel. The container on the trailer spewed a large quantity of brine into the west ditch.
Both drivers were transported via ambulance to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. The driver of the transport truck was later airlifted to the London Health Sciences Centre where he remains in critical condition. Total damage has been estimated at $160,000. Kent Bridge Road was closed until 12:30 a.m. this morning for environmental clean-up purposes.
The collision remains under investigation by the Traffic Management Unit. Anyone who may have witnessed this collision is asked to contact Constable Mike Pearce at 519-355-1092. Anonymous callers may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) and may be eligible for a cash reward.
