City police say a female passenger died in hospital after a vehicle crashed into a construction hole in south-end Barrie on Saturday.
Shortly before 3 p.m., officers were called to a scene in the area of Yonge Street and Big Bay Point Road as repairs were being made to a watermain that had broken the day before.
A vehicle travelling southbound on Yonge Street through a construction area and came to rest in a deep, open portion of the road that had been exposed to allow for repairs to be made to the broken watermain.
The 78-year-old male driver and his 69-year-old female passenger, both from Barrie, were extricated by Barrie firefighters and police officers.
They were transported to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre in Barrie where the woman was pronounced deceased.
The male driver was airlifted to a Toronto-area trauma centre where police say he's being treated for life-threatening injuries sustained in the crash.
Barrie police corporate communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday the investigation continues and how the vehicle ended up in the hole has not been determined.
“We have heard talk of a medical event that maybe caused this unfortunate incident, but at this time there is nothing to suggest that,” he said Monday. “The investigation is ongoing and we will hopefully be able to report more soon."
Leon also confirmed there were two city workers in the hole at the time of the crash, but they were not injured.
The Ministry of Labour is also investigating.
Anyone with information can contact Const. Langdon at 705-725-7025, ext. 2912 or by email at [email protected]. Witnesses can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), or leave an anonymous tip online.
