(Jan 25, 2004) -- North Bay curler Scott Patterson has died, the Ontario Provincial Police and the St. Joseph's Health Care Centre in Sudbury both confirmed.
Sgt. Joe Bourdon, of the Ontario Provincial Police North East Region Operations Centre, said police had received confirmation from the Sudbury hospital that Patterson had passed away around 10:00 this morning, dieing from injuries sustained in a serious accident.
Patterson and his CFB Curling Club rink, which includes Greg Cantin, John McClelland and Gerry Cantin, were on their way to the Sudbury Curling Club for the Northern Ontario Curling Association Challenge Round when the accident occurred on Hwy 17 at Wahnapitae.
Police said an eastbound pick up truck lost control on black ice, crossed the centre line and struck a westbound mini van at which time another westbound vehicle rear-ended the mini van.
Patterson, 34, and his rink were taken to St. Joseph's Health Centre by ambulance.
McLelland sustained scratches and bruises, Gerry Cantin suffered a broken arm and an injured knee but was released today while Greg Cantin suffered a ruptured spleen.
The driver of the pick up truck, Daniel Louis Gagnon, 29, of North Bay, and his daughter, Josee, 8, were not injured.
The driver of the third vehicle, Lise St. Denis, age 34, of Wahnapitae, along with her five children were not injured.
An OPP technical traffic collision investigator and a collision reconstructionist remain at the scene. The highway is expected to be closed at certain times throughout the day today as officers complete their investigation.
Hit black ice
The accident occurred between Hwy 537 and Mills Road, OPP said.
A store owner in Wahnapitae contacted by BayToday.ca said that piece of highway is on a hill.
The store owner, who gave his name as Frank, said the fire departments from Wahnapitae and Coniston were dispatched to the accident.
“The highway there was terribly ice.”
Frank said the highway was closed after the accident but reopened at around 9 p.m.
OPP said two people involved in the accident had to be extricated from their vehicle with the Jaws of Life.
Patterson has been to two Canadian championships, Nokia Brier, in 1994 and 1999.
He is married to Tracey, and they have a five-year-old daughter and two-year-old son.
BayToday.ca will have more on this story this afternoon including reactions from two-time world curling champion Russ Howard, who skipped a team Patterson had been a part of.
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