A two-car crash on Highway 23 on 8 a.m. March 22 near Minto left one person dead and four others injured. The cause of the crash is not yet known.
A 21-year-old woman was driving a Chevrolet northbound and hit a Mercedes traveling southbound carrying a family of three. A passenger in the Chevrolet died at the accident scene. The Chevrolet driver and the family in the Mercedes were all taken to the hospital, but none of them had life-threatening injuries.
The crash happened near Minto and resulted in the closing of Highway 23 between Palmerston and Harriston for most of the day. Conditions were snowy, which may have contributed to the accident, but investigators had not determined the cause by the end of the day.
In addition the weather conditions, a number of other factors will be considered to determine the cause of the crash. The speed of the cars will be one as well as the question of who crossed the centerline. The survivors of the accident as well as any witnesses will be interviewed. Causes ranging from reckless driving to intoxication to momentary distraction can all result in a fatal motor vehicle accident.
If one of the drivers is determined to be at fault in this accident, it may be possible for the people who were injured to seek compensation for injuries or lost wages. The family of the deceased person might also seek compensation for funeral expenses and wrongful death. A lawyer might be able to offer advice on the best course of action. While it is not necessary to prove criminal negligence in a civil case, it is also possible that one of the vehicles crossed the centerline for reasons outside of the driver’s control. For example, if the road was icy, a driver may have skidded.
Source: CTV News Kitchener, “One person dead, four injured in Highway 23 crash near Minto “, March 22, 2014
