City police have charged a 26-year-old Barrie man in connection to a head-on collision in January on Essa Road that left a woman in hospital with serious injuries.
Troy Foltz was arrested by Thunder Bay police, where he is currently charged in an unrelated matter.
In relation to the Jan. 21 collision in Barrie, Foltz has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm, failing to remain at the scene of a collision, two counts of failing to comply with probation orders, and escape of lawful custody.
The crash happened around 2:45 p.m. on Jan. 21, near Anne Street.
Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday that the driver crossed over into westbound lanes to oncoming traffic and hit another vehicle head-on.
“The driver of the other vehicle, a 27-year-old Barrie woman, was airlifted to a Toronto trauma centre with very serious injuries. I’m unaware of her status as of right now,” Leon said Friday. “What we know is she was doing nothing wrong and the man in custody, unexpected to her and other drivers, crossed over the line into oncoming traffic.”
After the collision, police canvassed local businesses and were able to obtain video surveillance footage of the suspect fleeing the scene on foot. After distributing the screenshots, it was a local officer who identified the accused.
“As we do with any footage like this, we circulated it throughout the police service and to the public, hoping someone can make an identification,” said Leon. “One of our officers was able to positively identify the accused and we later found him to be in the custody of police in Thunder Bay.”
Leon said charges from the collision will be traversed to Thunder Bay and handled in that jurisdiction along with Foltz’s other charges.
“This happens often where when an accused is somewhere else, especially far away as in this situation, the Crown attorney offices will get together and work out how to handle the separate charges from different jurisdictions,” said Leon.
According to Thunder Bay police, Foltz was arrested on March 25, 2021 when he was stopped with another person. He has been charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000, resisting arrest, breach of probation, possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of heroin for the purpose of trafficking.
None of the charges against Foltz have been tested in court.
