Advocates still pushing for more median barriers 7 years after fatal 401 crash

Seven years after a deadly crossover crash killed a friend and her daughter, a Chatham councilor is still pushing for more concrete median barriers on a notorious stretch of Highway 401 through Chatham-Kent.

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Alysson Storey, founder of the grassroots group Build the Barrier, said the anniversary remains one of “terrible grievance and sadness” for the loved ones of Sarah Payne and her daughter, Freya, 5.

“What makes their loss even more outrageous is the province knew then, just as they know now, that concrete median barriers in this stretch would have prevented their deaths,” she said in a release. “Two innocent lives were stolen and families devastated.

“Some progress has been made between Tilbury and Merlin, and we are very appreciative of that. But we must have a time commitment and see action for the remaining 106 kilometers now.”

On Aug. 29, 2017, Sarah was driving with Freya and her son, Will, 6, from their home in London to the family cottage in Rondeau, one hour to the southwest.

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An eastbound driver crossed the median in the Dutton area and hit the Payne family’s minivan head-on, killing Sarah and Freya and seriously injuring Will.

Hubert Patrick Domonchuk, of Cambridge, ultimately pleaded guilty to two counts each of impaired driving and dangerous driving causing death, and one count each of impaired driving and dangerous driving causing bodily harm. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.

The Ministry of Transportation installed cable barriers in 2018 as a temporary measure, and about 11 km of concrete barriers have been completed between Tilbury and Merlin. The provincial government has promised to complete the remaining stretch, but there’s no firm timeline, the release added.

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“We have spent seven years getting this far, and we are still waiting for action between Merlin and London,” Storey said. “We continue to implore (Transportation) Minister (Prabmeet) Sarkaria to speed up the concrete median barrier installation process.”

Advocates note the importance of concrete barriers in preventing transport trucks, in particular, from crossing over, and protecting first responders and tow truck drivers.

Storey said the group has met with every transportation minister, with the exception of then-minister Caroline Mulroney during the pandemic, to discuss the issue.

In a statement, the ministry said a project timeline will be available after several next steps.

“Construction of Phase 1 of the Highway 401 expansion from Tilbury to Merlin Road, including concrete median barrier, was completed last year,” it said.

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“The ministry is proceeding with the necessary engineering work and environmental assessments for the remaining phases of the Highway 401 expansion from Merlin Road to London, including the installation of concrete median barriers. A schedule for the project will be determined once all approvals are in place.”

“To continue advancing the Highway 401 expansion to accommodate six lanes, improvements are required at the Highway 401 and Highway 4 (Colonel Talbot Road) interchange, including replacement of the Highway 4 underpass and Glanworth Drive underpass,” the ministry added.

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