NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO PROVINCIAL POLICE
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The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) investigated three road/off-road fatalities and laid numerous traffic charges leading up to and over the Victoria Day Long Weekend.
The first fatality occurred on Friday, May 17, 2019 when a 58-year-old man was killed in an off-road vehicle incident in Peterborough County.
On the same day, a 28-year-old female pedestrian was killed after being struck by a passenger van in Essex County.
On Sunday, May 19, 2019 the OPP recovered the body of a 72-year-old kayaker near Nipigon after his kayak became submerged and he failed to resurface a day earlier.
The OPP laid close to 12,000 traffic charges during Canada Road Safety Week (May 14-20), as they joined police partners across Canada in an effort to keep roads safe. The annual campaign is part of the broader Canada's Road Safety Strategy 2025, which aims to make Canada's roads the safest in the world.
Among the charges laid by the OPP:
- Speeding: 10,095
- Stunt driving/street racing: 226
- Failure to wear seat belt: 525
- Fail to yield: 277
- Distracted driving: 251
- Careless driving: 165
- Alcohol/drug-impaired driving: 162
The OPP is reminding boaters that Safe Boating Awareness Week is underway from May 18-24. Boaters and paddlers are reminded that safe boating practices will go a long way towards keeping vessel operators and their passengers safe this season.
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