Fatal snowmobile collision

EAST FERRIS – 44-year-old Eddy Pucko of Lowbanks, Ontario was pronounced dead after a snowmobile collision on Jan. 1 at about 11:30 a.m. North Bay OPP are investigating the incident with the assistance of technical traffic collision investigators, members of the SAVE unit, the forensic identification unit and the East Ferris volunteer fire department.

Police say three men were out on Lake Nosbonsing heading for the trails when one lost control of his machine while attempting to pass. The 1995 Mach Z Skidoo entered a marsh and became airborne. Help was sought in the form of a local firefighter who performed CPR until the arrival of air and land ambulance.

Pucko was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem, conducted on Jan. 2 at North Bay General Hospital, ruled out natural causes.

Speed is believed to have been a factor in the collision.

Festive RIDE wraps up

ALMAGUIN – The Almaguin Highlands OPP concluded their Festive RIDE program on Jan. 4. This year’s program, which began on Nov. 28, dedicated 223 hours of officers’ time to the program and resulted in the arrest and charging of six impaired drivers. Six 12-hour suspensions were also issued as well as 25 other related charges which include criminal code, highway traffic act, liquor license act, motorized snow vehicle act and compulsory automobile insurance act charges.

NORTH BAY – The North Bay OPP wrapped up their Festive RIDE program on Jan. 2 after laying seven impaired charges. Fifteen 12-hour suspensions were issued. During this time period there were five collisions that involved alcohol and one fatal collision.

OPP will still be conducting RIDE checks throughout the year to ensure the reduction of tragedies due to the use of alcohol and getting behind the wheel. North Bay OPP report that already this year two anglers have been charged with impaired operation of their vehicle and two others were served with a 12-hour suspension. Police remind the public that operation of any type of vehicle, including a snow machine or ATV, is a crime.

OPP flooded with Hydro calls

ALMAGUIN – The Almaguin Highlands detachment of the OPP fielded over 20 calls of hydro wires being downed by the wicked winds on Dec. 28. Downed power lines should be called into the Hydro One Outage Information Line at 1-800-434-1235 unless there is fire or threat to human life.

Charges laid in broom handle assault

BURK’S FALLS – Ronald Scheuneman, 32, of Burk’s Falls had six charges laid against him after assaulting two women at a Ryerson Township residence. Scheuneman repeatedly struck an older woman with a broom handle and then struck the other woman when she tried to intervene. The older woman returned home to call the ambulance that arrived before Scheuneman proceeded to her home. Police arrived on the scene and charged Scheuneman with two counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of impaired driving, driving while disqualified and breaching his undertaking which included failing to keep the peace and abstaining from alcohol. The woman was taken to Huntsville Hospital, where she was treated for minor injuries.

Snagged in downed lines

KEARNEY – A couple sustained minor injuries after getting tangled up in downed power lines after riding over them on a snowmobile on Dec. 31 around 3:30 p.m. on  OFSC trail #303. They were tended at Huntsville Hospital for their injuries.

Horse hit by car

SUNDRIDGE – Severe damage was sustained to a vehicle on Forest Lake Road around 9 p.m. on Jan. 3 after the driver tried to avoid a collision with three horses. The driver was cresting a hill when he saw the three animals on the road. The driver slammed on his breaks, hitting a patch of ice, and was unable to keep from hitting one of the horses. 

Gate goner at Landfill

BURK’S FALLS – The gate and a portion of the fence at the landfill site was torn down after someone hooked a vehicle up to the lock of the gate in an effort to get it open. The vandals fled the scene. Damage to the new gate and fence is estimated at about $4,000. There was no further damage and nothing was reported stolen. The incident is believed to have occurred between Dec. 26 and 27 but was not reported until around 8 a.m. on Dec. 29.

Four injured in crash

SOUTH RIVER – Four people were injured during a single motor vehicle collision on Dec. 28 around 3 p.m. The vehicle, proceeding northbound on Hwy. 11 near Goreville Road, lost control due to snow-covered roads and high winds and ended up in the centre median. The travellers were taken to a hospital in North Bay, where they were treated for minor injuries.

Car flips on Hwy. 11

NOVAR – A vehicle heading northbound on the four-laned section of Hwy. 11 just north of Novar struck ice, rolled her vehicle, spun around and ended up upside down in the centre median around 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 22. Neither the driver of the vehicle nor the two children who were travelling with her sustained any injuries. There was extensive damage to the vehicle.

Thieves no Grinch

SUNDRIDGE – Police were called to the scene of a residence of Hwy. 11 on Dec. 23 where thieves had stolen prescription medications and cigarettes but had left all the presents under the tree untouched. No valuables were taken; however, 80 Demerol patches and nine Phentenyl were taken as well as two cartons of duMaurier cigarettes. It is believed the items were stolen between 1 and 4 p.m. Police have no suspects and tracks to and from the residence were covered due to fallen snow.

Skidoo stolen from residence

SOUTH RIVER – A yellow 1998 MXZ Skidoo was stolen from a residence on Lincoln Street sometime between Boxing Day and the morning of Dec. 27. A neighbour reported the theft to police around 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 27 on behalf of the owner who was away at the time. The skidoo, with the license plate 822571, had been chained to a tree. Thieves abandoned the cover after cutting the chain and making off with the vehicle. The trail in the snow led police between houses onto Marie Street. However, heavy rains prohibited them from tracking the vehicle any further.

Thieves use bolt cutters in B&E

SOUTH RIVER – Bolt cutters were used to breach the garage of a seasonal residence that was broken into sometime after Nov. 16. Two pairs of aluminum snowshoes and a Mastercraft 10-inch table saw were stolen. The incident was reported to police on Dec. 27. There are no suspects.

Impaired driving charges laid

SUNDRIDGE – Bradford Jackson, 24, of Emsdale was charged after failing a roadside alcohol test when he was stopped during a RIDE spot check on Forest Lake Road and Joly Township Road around 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 23. Jackson was taken to the Almaguin Highlands OPP detachment, where he was charged with impaired driving.

Road conditions factor in demolished car

SOUTH RIVER – A car was demolished after being involved in a three-car accident on Hwy. 11 near Goreville Road around 1:30 on Dec. 28. The car was heading northbound when the driver lost control due to poor road continues. A second car swerved to avoid collision, striking the guardrail. A third car struck the first, sustaining severe damage. No charges were laid.

Two-vehicle collision nearly three

SOUTH RIVER – Two people sustained minor injuries after the driver of a northbound vehicle lost control on Hwy. 11 around 5:40 p.m. on Dec. 24. The northbound vehicle lost control in snowy road conditions, crossing the centre line, and striking a southbound vehicle. A third vehicle, also heading northbound, managed to avoid being involved in the collision by running into a snow bank. The two vehicles directly involved in the incident both sustained extensive damage.

90-year-old charged

SUNDRIDGE – A 90-year-old man was charged with failing to yield from a private drive. Welsley Brandt of Sundridge was pulling his vehicle out of a private driveway around 11:15 a.m. on Dec. 22 when a car proceeding northbound on Main Street struck him.

The big red octagonal sign

SOUTH RIVER – Ronald Lundy, 69, of South River was charged with failing to stop for a stop sign. Lundy, who was heading westbound on Marie Street, failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with a car heading northbound on Lincoln Avenue on Dec. 23 around 10:15 a.m.

Too fast for road conditions

NOVAR – No charges were laid after a vehicle, going too fast for the road conditions, lost control of on Stisted Road while trying to navigate a 90-degree curve. There were no injuries; however, the vehicle sustained complete front-end damage when it left the road and collided with a tree.

Snow blower vs. car

SOUTH RIVER – A trackless snow blower owned by the Village of South River was struck by a vehicle on Ottawa Street near Broadway Avenue on Christmas Day around 7:20 a.m. The driver of the snow blower was unaware that there was a vehicle attempting to pass when he turned, striking the car. No charges were laid and there was no damage reported to either vehicle.