One person has died and another is in serious condition after a collision in East Zorra-Tavistock. The crash happened around 5:10 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of Cassel Sideroad and Highway 59. Ontario Provincial Police said the collision involved an SUV and a pickup truck. The driver of an SUV, a 50-year-old man from London, was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the pickup truck, a 34-year-old Courtland man, is in hospital with life-threatening injuries. “It was 5:00 in the morning. The roads were pretty clear. So, we hope that we get some answers soon,” said Const. Randi Crawford with Oxford County OPP. “Highway 59 in East Zorra-Tavistock is closed between Cassel Sideroad and Oxford Road 8 due to a serious two-vehicle collision. A fluid spill has also been reported in the area,” the Ontario Provincial Police said in a media release earlier in the day. The highway was re-opened around noon. The cause of the collision remains under investigation. The crash is also renewing concerns about safety on Highway 59. In May 2023, a school bus driver and an OPP officer were killed in a crash near Oxford County Road 33. East Zorra-Tavistock Mayor Phil Schaefer said the latest collision is concerning for the community. “Especially where there’s loss of life,” Schaefer said. “It’s just sadness and worry for the families and the friends of those involved.” Schaefer said the township and Oxford County are looking at ways to address collision-prone areas. “What we aim to do is to come up with a strategy so that we can look to reduce injuries and fatalities across the whole county,” he said. Current priorities include speed feedback signs, adjusting speeds in certain areas, flashing beacons, rumble strips and improving lighting at some rural intersections. “I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily the road itself. It’s just the fact that it’s a popular road, so you’re going to have an increase of chances of collision,” she said. Police are reminding drivers to take precautions on the road. “Drive safe, drive smart, drive sober. That’s it. If everybody would do their piece, we could get rid of these collisions in our area and everywhere,” Crawford said.
