Mayor eyes safety upgrades after double-fatal Lambton crash

Mayor eyes safety upgrades after double fatal Lambton crash

BROOKE-ALVINSTON – The mayor of this rural Lambton County community is looking into potential safety improvements after a second fatal crash at the same intersection in two years.

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Two Windsor seniors die when their vehicle and a tractor-trailer collided at Inwood Road and Courtright Line about 1 pm Wednesday, Lambton OPP said Thursday. A passenger in the vehicle, 77, died at the scene while the driver, 79, died shortly after being flown by helicopter to hospital, police said.

Their names were not released to respect the family’s privacy, police said.

A tribute to Cameron Wilcox, 67, a St. Thomas tanker truck driver who died after a crash at Inwood Road and Courtright Line on Aug. 23, 2022, is seen Friday. (Terry Bridge/The Observer) Photo by Terry Bridge /Terry Bridge/The Observer

Cameron Wilcox, 67, a St. Thomas tanker truck driver who was later lauded as a hero, died and six people were taken to hospital after a crash at the same rural intersection, about 40 minutes southeast of Sarnia and an hour southwest of London, on Aug. 23, 2022. Wilcox’s tanker ended up in a small, steep northeast ditch after someone said he made a small maneuver that saved the six others but cost him his life.

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A tribute to Wilcox, with the words, “A true hero,” on a cross next to some flowers, was still there Friday.

Fatal Lambton County crash
Three people look on in distress as Lambton County firefighters, police and paramedics respond to a deadly Aug. 23, 2022, crash at Inwood Road and Courtright Line in Brooke-Alvinston. (Terry Bridge/The Observer files)

Wednesday’s crash appears to have taken place on the southeast corner. Debris was strewn about the area, grass was upturned and a road sign was bent over Friday.

After a second deadly crash in two years, Brooke-Alvinston Mayor David Ferguson said Friday he’s called a county roads official about potential safety improvements at the intersection.

“Expect to be chatting shortly to discuss what upgrades can be made in regards to increasing safety at that intersection,” Ferguson said by email.

But he hasn’t heard any safety concerns from residents, he added.

“I agree with Mayor Ferguson. I have not had any of the public reach out about that intersection,” Lambton County Warden Kevin Marriott said by email Friday. “I would like to see the OPP report of this week’s accident before jumping to any conclusions.”

Fatal Lambton County crash
The intersection of Inwood Road and Courtright Line in Brooke-Alvinston is seen here Friday, two days after a crash claimed the lives of two Windsor seniors. (Terry Bridge/The Observer) Photo by Terry Bridge /Terry Bridge/The Observer

East-west traffic on Courtright Line have the right-of-way through the intersection, because there are stop signs for north-south traffic on Inwood Road. The speed limit through there is 90 km/h, dropping to 70 km/h for traffic heading north into the small community of Inwood. There are no flashing lights on the Inwood Road stop signs.

Sections of Inwood Road and Courtright Line, closed well into Wednesday night for the crash probe, have reopened since.

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