The Southwestern Ontario trucker killed in a crash in rural Lambton County last week is being remembered as someone who was always helping others.
The Southwestern Ontario trucker killed in a crash in rural Lambton County last week is being remembered as someone who was always helping others.
Cameron Wilcox’s actions behind the wheel in his final moments may have helped save the lives of the people in the other vehicle, according to posts on social media, although police have yet to confirm this.
Six people were rushed to hospital after a tanker truck and an SUV collided shortly after 10 am on Aug. 23 at the intersection of Inwood Road and Courtright Line in Brooke-Alvinston, about 40 minutes southeast of Sarnia and an hour southwest of London.
Wilcox, a 67-year-old truck driver from St. Thomas, was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at Petrolia’s hospital, Lambton provincial police said. Four of the five people in the SUV were released from hospital by the next day while the fifth person was expected to be released within a couple of days, police said.
Wilcox, a father of one and stepfather of three, leaves behind his children, partner, siblings, nieces and nephews, according to his obituary. Outside of work, Wilcox was a passionate golfer and enjoyed singing karaoke.
“He was always helping someone,” the obituary says.
According to a post on the Facebook page Skilled Truckers Canada by a person who said they worked with Wilcox, he reportedly swerved to avoid a vehicle that pulled out in front of him.
“This was a great man that saved six lives today, to only give up his own,” the post said. “RIP brother.”
Multiple other people made similar comments in response to his obituary being posted on social media.
“He tried to avoid them but it cost him his life,” one person said.
“Cam jacknifed (sic) to try and miss them,” another person said. “He died a hero.”
A Lambton OPP spokesperson could not confirm these claims Monday.
“It is still under investigation and no charges have been laid at this time,” Const. Jamie Bydeley said Monday via email.
Brooke-Alvinston’s fire chief previously told The Observer the truck appeared to be heading east on Courtright Line while the SUV was going north on Inwood Road, but referred questions about what caused the crash to police investigators. There was confusion on social media about the direction the SUV was heading and what may have caused Wilcox to swerve, with one person claiming the vehicle went through a stop sign while another said it crossed the center line.
Vehicles heading east and west on Courtright Line have the right-of-way through the intersection as there are stop signs for traffic heading north and south on Inwood Road. The speed limit through there is 90 kilometers per hour, but drops to 70 km/h for traffic heading north into the small community of Inwood.
The tanker ended up in a steep – but small – ditch at the northeast corner of the intersection.
An Ornge helicopter landed in the area, but all patients were taken to hospital via land ambulances. Paramedics, police and firefighters from stations in nearby Alvinston and Oil Springs were called in. Hydro crews were also needed due to fallen live wires at the crash site.
A celebration of life for Wilcox is being held on Sept. 9 in St. Thomas.
