Kindness Mixes With Horror At The Scene Of A Fatal Accident That Killed A Mother And Left Her Daughter Struggling For Life
Posted October 19, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It was a terrible accident that left a mother dead, her young daughter with life threatening injuries, a second youngster coping with the tragedy, angry police and a Good Samaritan coming through when it counts.
It happened in Durham Region after two cars, a Volvo and an SUV, collided around 6:30am at Taunton and Courtice Roads just before the height of the morning rush Thursday.
Police discovered two badly mangled vehicles that had somehow run into each other in the always busy area.
The accident was a bad one – the 43-year-old driver was killed in the impact and paramedics were forced to make an emergency run along the crowded 401, rushing her 10-year-old daughter to the Hospital For Sick Children. She suffered life threatening injuries.
But in a case where every second counts, frustrated ambulance crews ran into literal roadblocks. The ambulance that took the child downtown wound up stuck in a long morning traffic jam and at one point had to navigate the 401 by taking to the shoulder.
The government refuses to say why the air ambulance wasn’t used, but the journey definitely added precious time to an already serious situation.
The older sister, aged 12, was less seriously hurt and was taken to Oshawa’s Lakeridge Hospital. She’s since been released.
And in the midst of so much carnage and chaos, there was also kindness. A good hearted driver helped tend to the wounded child while the disaster unfolded around her.
“She stayed with the twelve-year-old girl for some time until EMS arrived and even after they arrived,” relates Sgt. Paul McCurbin. “I’m speaking of multiple hours.”
Even veteran cops are shaken by the scope of the tragedy. “I’m sure the officers who have many years of experience are having a difficult time with this,” he agrees.
It’s not clear what caused the mishap, but authorities suspect weather was a factor. It was raining at the time and the streets were slick.
There’s little left of the family’s Volvo, and looking at the wreckage, it’s astounding anyone inside survived. The occupants of the SUV emerged relatively unscathed.
“My understanding is it was relatively close to being a head-on,” the Durham officer responds.
The name of the woman killed has yet to be released.
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