North Bay police say transport driver ran red light, caused collision

Ontario Provincial Police said the transport went through the red light around 6:10 p.m. May 28 at the intersection of Highway 11 and Airport Road in North Bay. (OPP photo)

A commercial motor vehicle driver from Alberta and the company they work for have been charged with 16 offences, including driving an unsafe vehicle and going through a red light in North Bay.

Police said the transport went through the red light around 6:10 p.m. May 28 at the intersection of Highway 11 and Airport Road in North Bay.

Emergency responders arrived after receiving reports of multiple collisions. One person received minor injuries.

Failed to stop at red light

“Initial investigation determined that a southbound CMV on Highway 11 failed to stop for a red light at the intersection of Airport Road,” police said in a news release May 29.

“The CMV collided with a passenger vehicle and continued southbound, striking additional vehicles.”

Officials with the Ministry of Transportation arrived and completed “a comprehensive inspection” of the CMV, which revealed serious problems.

Vehicle was unsafe to drive

“Multiple critical defects were identified, and the tractor portion of the CMV was subsequently placed out of service and its licence plates were removed.”

The 29-year-old driver from Waskatenau, Alta., has been charged with 10 offences, including driving an unsafe vehicle, failing to conduct daily inspections, failing to enter a serious vehicle defect in the daily inspection report, driving a CMV with a serious defect, having a wheel brake that was rendered inoperable, careless driving, driving through a red light and driving without a valid CVOR certificate.

A commercial carrier based out of Brampton, Ont., has been charged six offences, including permitting the unsafe operation of a CMV, failing to ensure performance standards are met and that daily inspections are completed properly, allowing a CMV to operate with inadequate brakes, allowing a CMV to operate when the push rod stroke exceeds the prescribed limit and with a wheel brake rendered inoperable.

“The OPP would like to thank members of the public who assisted at the scene and those who have come forward with information,” the release said.

Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the North Bay OPP at 1-888-310-1122.