Petition calls for safety improvements at accident-prone Lambton intersection
A petition calling for safety improvements to an accident-prone rural intersection in Lambton County is picking up momentum.
It follows three separate crashes in the last few months at London Line and Forest Road, and a fatal crash at the site last September.
That’s when Watford resident Stephanie Cattrysse lost her stepfather.
“We don’t want other families to suffer,” said Cattrysse.
Her stepfather, 57-year-old Robert Hollingsworth, was well known in the area for his painting business. He was pronounced dead after a two-vehicle crash at the site.
A driver from Kitchener was charged with careless driving causing death in connection with the incident.
Cattrysse has launched a petition both online and on paper, calling on Lambton County to make improvements to the intersection to make it safer.
Currently, the intersection is controlled by a two-way stop sign on Forest Road for northbound and southbound traffic. The speed limit on London Line, going east and west, is 90 kilometres an hour.
“This intersection is due for updates in the next two to three years, but that’s too long to wait,” said Cattrysse. “Bob was killed nine months ago, and since then there have been an additional three collisions at this intersection, so something needs to be done at least in the interim.”
Last fall, following the crash that killed Hollingsworth, OPP had tallied up 31 collisions at the site since 2010, including two fatalities.
Area residents say the trend is distrubing. “There’s a lot of times in the morning people don’t slow down, or they’ll slow down and they’ll shoot straight through,” remarked resident Dan Jans.
“It’s a bad corner, I keep my eyes open whenever I’m in that area,” said area resident O’Nile Forget.
Why it’s such a troubled intersection is a bit of a mystery, because it’s wide open, and there are no visible obstructions.
“There’s definitely something needed there,” said Lambton County Warden Kevin Marriott. He tells CTV News London a traffic study will be conducted over the summer with a report expected in September.
“First few steps could be overhead flashing lights, rumble strips. The review will also look at roundabout. Yeah, all options will be looked at.”
Cattrysse said she’s happy to see wheels are in motion. She’s hoping to get 5,000 signatures for her petition, which she will present to Lambton County council next month.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
NASA hears from Voyager 1, the most distant spacecraft from Earth, after months of quiet
NASA has finally heard back from Voyager 1 again in a way that makes sense. The most distant spacecraft from Earth hadn't sent home any understandable data since last November.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.