Crash Kills 17 Year Old Driver

Peel Police are investigating an accident that killed a 17 year old boy last night in Mississauga. A car was west bound on Drew Rd when it left the road, destroyed a bus shelter and hit a tree. The driver was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. Police are asking for anyone that was in the area last evening, who may have scene anything, to call Peel Police Major Collision Bureau.

Police Pursuit and Crash

I’ve been covering news since 1987 and have never witnessed what I saw last night. Sure, I’ve been to police chases before, some of them fatal. I’ve seen people trapped in bad wrecks. I’ve seen teenagers ejected in crashes because they didn’t wear seat belts. Last night after 30 minutes working with the Jaws of Life to free a young girl trapped in a car the unexpected happened. A spark ignited leaking gas and in seconds firefighters were frantically trying to extinguish a fire that threatened the young girl trapped in the back seat. The firefighter worked really fast to put out the flames and it really was all over in about 15 seconds but it took my breath away, in a way that news seldom does after 23 years on the job.

The SIU may not be saying much but it’s no secret. The accident occurred within seconds of the first radio transmission. An officer was following a vehicle that was not stopping when attempting to pull it over. Before the usual questions could even be asked, speed, licence plate, description …. It was over. As the minivan approached the intersection of Albion and Highway 27 the van struck two vehicles, one worse than the other, trapping a nine year old girl in the back seat of the crushed wreckage. We could hear her crying in pain as they attended to her father who was bleeding and shaken.


From the minivan, police will allege that one male ran from the scene, the other who appeared incoherent, arrested right away. The runner didn’t make it far. Within moments they were both cuffed, of little consolation to the victims now being rushed to local hospitals. Today the details are sketchy in the news media. SIU is on the case. The facts will emerge at a snails pace. Police are forced to say nothing until SIU completes the investigation, although I would guess they would like the public to know what really happened. I think they did a great job, balancing the need to apprehend with the need for public safety. Although this incident was barely long enough to be called a pursuit, police call off most chases within minutes or at the first sign of erratic driving, a fact too well known among those trying to avoid apprehension.

Early Morning Fire Hits Queen West

Four alarm fire destroys a 3 storey apartment building on Lisgar St in 14 Division. Queen West was closed due to smoke conditions and traffic issues. It looked like they had this one licked but it got into the walls and up to an add-on on the third floor. Two treated for minor injuries. As many as six apartments are left heavily damaged.

Highway 400 Closed by Truck Fire

We thought the night was over. We had already done a fatal fire in the east end earlier last night. It was 6am and we were both almost at the end of shift. TV Tommy (@vaughanweather on Twitter) and I were chatting it up at Weston Rd and the 401 when this tractor trailer fire came across the airwaves. We arrived before O.P.P. and TFD and as you can see it was fully involved. The truck contained non-dairy creamer. The highway was closed for an hour or so and remained a big mess all morning long.

Air Ambulance Lands on QEW

A 39 year old man is dead this morning after he ran into the back of a stopped tanker truck on the QEW east bound just east of Winston Churchill. Both east and westbound lanes were closed so air ambulance could land on the highway. Sadly they left without the victim after he was pronounced dead on the scene.

The helicopter came into contact with wires on takeoff. I captured it on video but didn't notice it at the time. Bert from City-TV saw it clearly and said we almost became a Youtube video. It wasn't until later that I realized I had a brush with danger. They will inspect the helicopter later today.

The truck was stopped for emergency maintenance on the right shoulder. The car was destroyed. The east bound QEW remained closed for accident reconstruction. Traffic was diverted onto Hwy 403 up toward the 401 causing traffic nightmares for the morning commute into the city.

All of this after a very quiet Thursday night shift. So this added some overtime onto my shift. I'm home now enjoying my wife's company and the weekend.

Roll Roll Roll Your Truck Gently Down The Highway

Really busy night at work, including this truck roll over on the 409 West. I also shot a stabbing and a couple of other crashes. In another crash a TTC street car crashed into a TTC maintenance crew and sent three workers to hospital. I didn't shoot anything the last two days so we made up for it tonight. That's TV .... hurry up and wait.

Double Shooting in Peel Region

A Peel Police Officer gathers evidence and searches for shell casings. The scene was a parking lot beside 325 Webb Dr. just steps from Square One. Two people were shot and police are looking for two others seen leaving the area in a tow truck. A large parking lot was surrounded with crime scene tape after officers discovers shell casings lying nearby.

Fatal Crash on DVP

A City of Toronto garbage truck lost control on the ramp from the viaduct to the north bound DVP. This ramp comes down from near the Pizza Pizza at Broadview. It's very steep and right at the end it takes a very sharp right turn. I've squeeled my tires there myself when hitting that sharp turn at the bottom. One person was ejected and one was trapped for two hours then rushed to Sunnybrook. Sadly they past away. My condolences to family and city staff. Prior to this we had covered Metro's latest homicide at 4010 Lawrence East where a man was found in the hallway shot in the head. Very busy night.

Project Folkstone - That was fun wasn't it? What's next?

We have all been kept very busy on the night shift for the last two nights. As police put the finishing touches on Project Folkstone we've been there to gather video of all the suspects being brought in for booking and the ETF doing morning wake up calls. This morning they visited a few more homes and we were there as they confiscated a Porsche in Etobicoke. It will all be on the news tonight of course. Thanks to all those involved for making the streets a little safer, for not freaking out when the cameras showed up and for that nice little chunk of overtime that will be on my next cheque. Here is a link to the full media kit regarding this project. http://www.opp.ca/ecms/index.php?id=491

Multiple Warrants Executed.

Police executed several search warrants this morning around the GTA. They will hold a news conference tomorrow to announce details of the operation, described as an international gun and drug smuggling organized crime ring. Seems everyone played a part in this one including O.P.P., Toronto, York, Durham and Windsor Police. It also involved Border Services and the ATF. A show-n-tell is scheduled for Thursday morning at YRP 2 District. We shot several suspects arriving there this morning. We will be hearing more about this in the coming days.

Line of Duty Death

Peel Regional Police Constable Artem "James" Otchakovski died Tuesday after his cruiser collided with another vehicle


The officer died after a collision at Airport Rd and Steeles. His cruiser collided with another vehicle and then hit a pole. My condolences to his family and fellow officers. The other driver was treated for minor injuries. No word on cause or charges.
 
He died in the line of duty, while protecting residents and visitors in Peel Region. I personally appreciate the service and hard work by him and his fellow officers.

401 Closed After Truck Rollover

OPP had a mess to clean up on the 401 westbound at Yonge Street through the night. A truck carrying particle board rolled over, depositing its load and diesel fuel across all lanes. The heavy tows got to work and the highway was to remain closed through the morning rush hour.

Sensational in Siam

I was just thinking back to my last trip to Thailand in 2005. Can't wait to get back to The Land of Smiles.

Gas Line Fire Closes Woodbine Ave in Unionville.

Police and fire evacuated about 40 houses in the area of this gas line fire. It took about 8 hours to isolate and shut down the gas. Woodbine Ave remained closed most of the night near 16th Ave in Unionville.

Project Lam Ying

A large group of police officers, firefighters and EMS rolled out of 42 division early this morning to put the finishing touches on Project Lam Ying. The target was a drug lab just down the street from the police station. Here is the News Release

Four Alarm Beaches Fire

A Few More Pics.

Four Alarm Fire in the Beaches

I was pretty far away when the call came over for a fire on Wheeler Ave in the Beaches. I knew it would take a while to get there in the snow from 401 and Weston Rd but this one quickly escalated to a 4th alarm and was still burning out of control when I arrived.

It was nice to run into someone who actually admitted to reading my Twitter posts. Always nice to make new friends.

Watch for the update tonight on CBC starting at 5pm or maybe even on CBC News Network in the morning.