2 kids among injured in Flamborough crash

(Updated)

A Kitchener-Waterloo woman and her family were involved in a violent collision — in a Flamborough intersection notorious for crashes.  And residents say they’ve had enough…

residents told me that once they heard the sound of this multi-vehicle crash they acted quickly to help but unfortunately they weren’t surprised that it happened.

Jeff Cowan is a two-year resident:  “There is absolutely going to be a fatality here at some point.”

That’s the sentiment among many people who live near the crash-heavy intersection of Concession Road Six West and Brock Road in Flamborough. Around 7:30 in the morning, Hamilton police say a mother of three from Kitchener-Waterloo was driving a station wagon east down Concession Six.  Her fourteen-year old son, his friend and the family dog were also in the car.  They’d been camping.  The station wagon crashed with another car — driven by a 19-year old man — which was travelling southbound on Brock Road.   All four people were taken to hospital and will be okay.

This is one of many crashes on this stretch of road, to the point where residents are experts at responding to them.

Valerie:  “Everyone knows what to do at the corner, it happens so many times. grab blankets, call 911.”

They believe that the lack of stop signs on Brock, high speed limits and poor sight lines all lead to the crashes.

Robert:  “Those two intersections, Sixth Concession and the Fifth have been problems for years.”

Jeff Cowan:  “Absolutely fearful.  I avoid this corner as much as I can now.”

Valerie Sheehan is a 15-year resident:  “Cutting the grass, I’m always looking behind me.”

Residents here have been forced to adapt to this intersection.  This house was hit by a car not too long ago and, as a response, put in these massive boulders to prevent that from ever happening again.  But what residents really want to see are changes to the intersection itself.

Jeff:  “The road needs to be slowed down.  If it was slower, who knows what would have happened in this scenario.”

Valerie:  “I would like to see a flashing red one way and a flashing yellow the other way.”

Robert Pasuta is the Ward 14 Councillor:  “Residents are asking for a four way stop, so we can seriously consider that, rumble strips coming up to the stop signs, whether two stop signs on sixth concession or if we put stop signs on Brock, still should have rumble strips and possibly even a flashing light.”

We just got off the phone with the city and they informed me that they were told to investigate the intersection almost three weeks ago and said that in about one to two weeks they should be able to supply some recommendations to make the intersection safer.