A 65-year-old man was seriously injured after a driver passed a road closed barricade near Shakespeare, Ont. and hit him. The man was Dave Pettitt, a long-time cameraman with CKCO/CTV Kitchener. His family has given CTV News permission to identify him. Pettitt was filming the scene of a three-vehicle crash on Line 34, between Road 102 and 104, on Thursday afternoon. Ontario Provincial Police had set up road closed barricades in the area while they investigated the collision. They said a driver went through one of those barricades and hit Pettitt. He was taken to a hospital in Stratford with serious, life-threatening injuries. Pettitt’s family told CTV News on Friday his condition had stabilized. OPP did not share any further details about the collision, including whether any charges would be laid against the driver. Another driver blows by barricade OPP said two drivers went through the road closed signs at Line 34. In a video posted to social media Thursday night, Sgt. Ed Sanchuk confirmed there had been second incident at a different barricade. He also said no one was hurt. “Drivers need to slow down and pay attention, so these unnecessary preventable collisions are avoided,” Sanchuk warned. “Driving’s a privilege, not a right. Each and every time you get behind that wheel, always make sure that you put your safety as a priority and always pay attention to your surroundings.” Police are asking anyone who witnessed either collision, has dash cam or security video, to contact investigators at 1-888-310-1122. Editor’s note: The entire CTV News Kitchener team is keeping Dave and his family in our thoughts.
