One charged in fatal pile-up crash in Oshawa

A driver has now been charged in the major Bloor Street crash last month which killed a woman and sent nine others to hospital.

Shortly after noon on Aug. 10, a 40-year-old Toronto man was driving his Mercedes south on Ritson Road near Bloor Street. As he sped down the busy road, near the Highway 401 on-ramp, he entered the far-right lane and hit a Nissan.

This caused the Nissan driver, a 41-year-old Oshawa woman, to lose control of her vehicle. She ended up crashing into a Chevy Orlando which then caught fire. The Nissan continued into a Honda and a Dodge Caravan, which also ignited. The Honda and the Orlando also struck other vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Mercedes continued onward after the initial crash. It crossed the northbound lanes on Ritson Road. It struck the corner of the Ritson and Bloor Chip Truck which caused an awning to collapse on a man waiting for his food. The Mercedes then struck a light post and came to a rest.

The Nissan driver was declared dead at the scene. Another nine people were hurt and required hospitalization.

On Sept. 9, Durham Police charged Lorne Nicholson, 40 of Toronto, with;

• dangerous driving causing death,
• four counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, and
• leaving an accident scene with failure to give a name or offer assistance

He remains in custody pending a bail hearing.

Anyone with information about the crash can call police at 905-579-1520 ext. 5267 of Crime Stopper anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.