Deadly crash on Long Lake Rd. kills two

BY TRACEY DUGUAY

The police investigation continues into the collision that killed two people Saturday night (Sept. 22) at the intersection of Long Lake Rd. and the Southwest Bypass.

At around 8:40 pm, a red 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier was travelling southbound on Long Lake Rd. when it entered the intersection and was struck by a blue 2006 GMC pickup truck driving eastbound.

The passenger in the Cavalier, Bradley MacNeil, 31, of Sudbury, and the driver of the truck, Ronald Senecal, 50, of Sturgeon Falls, were both killed after being ejected from the vehicles.

Neither MacNeil nor Senecal were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision, police say.

The 22-year-old driver of the car, who was buckled up, escaped serious injury. She was treated at the hospital and later released.

Const. Michelle Coulombe, community services officer/media relations with the Sudbury OPP detachment, said preliminary investigations indicate the female driver of the car failed to stop at a red light.

“Charges are pending,” Coulombe said. None have been formally laid yet since the investigation is still ongoing.

A police reconstructionist was at the scene but hasn’t filed a report yet.

Coulombe also said that neither vehicle has been examined, nor has the black boxes inside the vehicles which can give police clues at to what was happening with the vehicles leading up to the collision.

The constable said it could be “few weeks” before the investigation concludes or charges are laid.

Coincidentally, the deaths happened on the same day of the launch of the province-wide Fall Seatbelt Campaign in Ontario. Since the campaign began 10 drivers and one passenger have been charged with failing to wear their seatbelts.

“The fatal collision investigated by officers this weekend is a reminder to all that seatbelts do save lives as this was a survivable collision if only the occupants would have worn their seatbelts,” stated a news release issued by the OPP.

A funeral mass for MacNeil, a miner at Inco Stobie Mine for 12 years, will be held on Thursday at 10 am in Our Lady of Hope Church.

MacNeil is survived by his wife Danette, his son Denver, his parents Lawrence and Judy MacNeil, as well as his siblings David, Amber, Brittany and Chad.