Man killed in bus collision

BY COLE RIVARD
for northern life

A man driving a white Nissan Pathfinder was rushed to the hospital after his vehicle rear-ended a city bus on Barrydowne Rd. between Westmount Ave. and Gemmel St. Wednesday.

Michel Charbonneau, 59, of Sudbury, was pronounced dead at St. Joseph's Health Centre. A police news release said Charbonneau had a history of medical problems.

The driver of a pick-up truck following behind the Pathfinder witnessed the collision and was first to come to the aid of the injured man.

“He was just driving erratically, it seemed like he didn’t have control of the vehicle,” the pick-up driver said. “At the last second he swerved and hit the back of the bus.”

The driver of the pick-up also noted that the front passenger wheel of the Pathfinder was wobbling prior to the impact. He said the windshield was smashed and the driver of the Pathfinder appeared to have extensive injuries.

“It didn’t look like the driver was conscious as paramedics were pulling him out of the wreckage,” said the witness, who wished to remain anonymous.

According to a Greater Sudbury Police news release, the Pathfinder, just prior to rear-ending the bus, was travelling west on Hawthorne St. when it turned onto Barrydowne Rd., striking a traffic light on the centre median. The truck jumped the median and proceeded south.

The police said the Pathfinder then turned into the Barrydowne Animal Hospital parking lot where a man in his early to mid fifties got out of the passenger side, holding a white T-shirt. After some discussion with the driver, the man started walking north towards the New Sudbury Centre. Witnesses say he didn't appear to be injured.

Although police were looking for him, the passenger has since come forward and spoken to police.

The Pathfinder then pulled back onto Barrydowne Rd., driving south until colliding with the bus.

The witness who was first on the scene said and most of the bus passengers walked off of the bus under their own power.

“Everybody piled off of the bus,” he said. “Everyone seemed fine, except for one woman, who looked hurt. It looked like she had back problems.”

“At least no one in the other lane was hit,” the witness said, stating that the oncoming lane was packed with motorists. 

The damage to the Pathfinder’s front-end passenger side sustained the most damage. Damage to the bus was minimal.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 675-9171.