CHARGE LAID / UPDATE: DOUBLE FATALITY ON HIGHWAY 11/17 WEST OF NIPIGON

oppcolourNIPIGON, ON – July 23, 2013 at 3:10 p.m. members of the Nipigon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) attended the scene of a motor vehicle collision at Highway 11/17, Red Rock Road 9 west of Nipigon.  Three motor vehicles and two cyclists were involved in the collision.

A group of 25 cyclists on a cross country tour which started in Vancouver were travelling eastbound on Highway 11/17 and were passing through the area of Red Rock when two of the cyclists were struck by an eastbound pick-up truck.  The pick-up truck then struck two westbound motor vehicles, a pick-up truck hauling a cargo trailer and a tractor trailer unit.  The occupants of the eastbound pick-up truck and the occupants of the tractor trailer unit were transported from the scene by ambulance for injuries sustained in the collision.  The occupants of the westbound pick-up truck were not injured in the collision.

The cyclists, 65 year old Robert BOOTH and 69 year old Irene BOOTH of the Township of North Glengarry, Ontario were pronounced deceased at the scene of the collision.

As a result of investigation, the 66 year old male driver of Austin, Texas that struck the cyclists has been charged with Careless Driving contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.  The driver is to appear in Nipigon Provincial Offence Court on March 24, 2014 to answer to the charge.

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