BUCKLAW, Victoria Co. - A 52-year-old man from Truro was killed in a four-vehicle accident Tuesday on Highway 105 near St. Patrick's Channel on Cape Breton Island.
"It was quite a tragic scene," said RCMP Cpl. Ron MacDonald. "We had one person pronounced dead at the scene. We had a tractor-trailer and a car that were westbound on Highway 105 and a van that was eastbound."
MacDonald said the van and tractor-trailer collided, sending the van into the oncoming lane where it hit the Pontiac Grand Am driven by the victim head-on. The man's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The tractor-trailer, which was carrying a load of fish, ended up overturned in the ditch in the eastbound lane. The drivers of the tractor-trailer and the van were both taken to Victoria County Memorial Hospital in Baddeck with non-life-threatening injuries.
The adult female passenger in the Pontiac Grand Am was transported by air ambulance to the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in serious condition.
The driver of the fourth vehicle involved, a Toyota Corolla, wasn't injured.
The driver of the van, a 31-year-old man from New Brunswick, has been charged with driving left of a solid double-line, which carries a fine of $284.91.
"It's been a busy two weeks," MacDonald said. "There is no predicting it. What happens is there is a bit of a chain reaction. You have a minor collision which sets vehicles going in the wrong place and you have more collisions. A domino effect would be a good way to describe it."
Traffic was rerouted throughout the day as the investigation continued. As of 3 p.m. the highway was partially reopened as crews worked to clear the scene.
Island Shuttle driver Jim Close was travelling behind the Pontiac Grand Am when the accident occurred.
"The van came across the line, hit the tractor-trailer, then it came around the tractor-trailer and hit the car head-on right in front of me," Close said.
Close, who has been driving for the shuttle service for six years, said it was frightening to see the tractor-trailer flipping down the highway.
"He lost control and jackknifed after he got hit. I just aimed for where they collided. I watch a lot of NASCAR and that's what they tell you - if you see an accident aim for it and when you get there it will be gone. They went in different directions and we got through by inches."
Close, who had five passengers in the van, said the accident happened so quickly he didn't have time to panic.
jcollins@cbpost.com
