Another car/pedestrian accident seems to have strengthened local resolve to get the Highway 6 bypass moved ahead.
On Sept. 23 at about 12:50pm, 43-year-old Angie Inglis of Morriston sustained non-life threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle turning onto Highway 6 (Queen Street) near Badenoch Street.
Bypass proponent Bill Knetsch said it was the latest of many accidents along the busy highway.
“This time it was one of our neighbours; she was walking her dog on a beautiful day and was hit by a car crossing the green light on the pedestrian walkway crossing Highway 6,” said Knetsch.
Inglis said she and her dog were almost 20 feet from home when the accident happened. She explained she was waiting for the lights to turn green, as was the driver of the vehicle waiting to turn left into the southbound lane of Highway 6.
Inglis said as she started to cross, the driver accelerated into the turn, striking her. She estimates she was thrown about 10 feet as a result of the impact.
Inglis sustained a fractured wrist and was taken to Guelph hospital by paramedics.
She noted this is not the first accident at the intersection and recalled a neighbour being run over by a tow truck. But there have been other close calls there as well, she said.
While her dog was not injured in the accident, Inglis said “it was freaked out and went missing for four hours.” She said it was found four kilometres away covered in dirt and hiding in a field.
Inglis said the dog has been very protective of her and the pair has yet to go out for a walk since the accident.
Knetsch said he appreciates the efforts of the Wellington Advertiser in keeping residents up to date on the issue and “the urgent need for a Highway 6 bypass.” He contended tens of thousands of motorists travel through the small village on a daily basis.
Knetsch said, “It is now time for the MTO, the Minister of Transportation Steven Del Duca and the government of Ontario to place the Highway 6 bypass on the five-year construction plan for Ontario.”
He added the project has been “delayed for decades” and “cannot be delayed any longer.” Following Inglis’ accident, Knetsch said felt obligated to write the transportation minister to show him the accident via photos and video to again show the urgent need for the Morriston bypass.
He also forwarded his letter to all local politicians, to the county, OPP, planners, head of county roads and to the Puslinch fire chief.
In his letter Knetsch stated that over the last five years, on average there has been at least one accident per week along the Morriston corridor.
“We live in constant fear that a child, pedestrian, commuter, or even ourselves will become yet another statistic. We take our lives in our hands when walking the sidewalk, pulling out of our driveways, or crossing Highway 6, either by foot or car,” Knetsch wrote.
“How many more lives/injuries will it take, to take over 20,000 vehicles that are forced through the village of Morriston daily and put them on a bypass around our village?”
