Five people were taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries following a three-vehicle collision Thursday evening at the intersection of John Wise Line and Fairview Road. A pickup and an SUV collided in the intersection hitting a vehicle sitting at the stop signs. Traffic on Fairview have the right-of-way with stop signs controlling east-west traffic on John Wise. A couple who lives near the intersection has witnessed numerous serious crashes there and believes there needs to be new safety measures taken. As is often the case with the crashes at the crossing, Steve and Caroyln Plaunt were first to come to the aid of the victims. Steve recounted entering the SUV where many of the most seriously injured were trapped, “When I was in in the vehicle with the children, type of thing, I yelled out, get at least four ambulances.” Collisions at this intersection are so frequent the Plaunts maintain their own emergency response bag with safety gloves, reflective vests and clean, absorbent cloths. They’ve developed a system where Carolyn calls 9-1-1 and Steve relays information. “I get to the scene as fast as I can, and I use my hands to tell my wife how many people are injured,” said Steve. Carolyn added, “..or trapped..” The Plaunts built their house on the southeast corner of the intersection in 1987. Carolyn spent her childhood on the family farm near there. They say collisions have become increasingly more frequent and more violent. They say there have been three serious crashes this month alone. On one occasion, the Plaunts had a vehicle leave the road and roll multiple times onto their property and towards their home. There are currently rumble strips on John Wise, a warning sign that a stop is ahead, and flashing lights above the intersection. The stop signs are larger than the traditional signs. But the Plaunts say in many cases those warnings simply don’t seem to register with drivers, with many drivers blowing through the stop sign. Carolyn believes it’s time Elgin County officials step up safety measures, “Like stoplights, if people are paying attention, they’ll work. If not, the other option is round-about because they have to slow down to do the roundabout.” A roundabout is the preferred option for the Plaunts and they say now is the time to do it before other residential and commercial developments move in. In the meantime, they say they won’t stop helping those involved in collisions at the intersection. According to Steve, “If we were ever in that situation, we want someone there to hold my hand.” Still, they admit it takes a toll. An emotional Steve says he’s been offered victim’s services support on other occasions but after Thursday’s crash he feels it may help. “An OPP officer spoke to me last night. He suggested it. It had been suggested before but it’s...” Carolyn finished his thought, “..you see things you don’t want to see.”
