Fatal accident last week just outside King

The York Regional Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal motor vehicle collision last Wednesday morning on Green Lane, west of Yonge Street in the Town of East Gwillimbury just east of the municipal boundary with King.

Police report a green Chevrolet Astro van was traveling west in the passing lane on Green Lane at about 6:15 a.m. A dump truck was heading east from Bathurst Street in the curb lane. The driver of the van apparently lost control of the vehicle on a patch of road covered with black ice. He crossed the centre line into oncoming traffic, colliding with the dump truck. Both vehicles ended up in the ditch on the south side of Green Lane, engulfed in flames. The driver of the dump truck managed to escape.

The driver of the van, Joseph Takacs, 37, of Holland Landing, was fatally injured and pronounced dead at the scene by York Region Emergency Medical Services. The driver of the dump truck was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Police remind all drivers of the following safety tips at this time of year when weather conditions can be deceiving or change rapidly:  Clear all the frost from your vehicle to ensure an unobstructed view.  Drive according to road and weather conditions; speed limits are for ideal road conditions.  Vehicles take longer to stop on slippery roads.  Monitor the weather and give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.  Reduce your speed and drive safely.  Be aware that weather conditions can change quickly.  Be aware of dangers that are not obvious, like black ice or visibility slowly decreasing.

Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident who have not spoken to police are asked to contact the Traffic Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7703, Crime Stoppers at 1- 800-222-TIPS, or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com