A 63-year-old man is fighting for his life in hospital after a violent two-vehicle collision in Clarington on Sunday afternoon that sent four people to hospital and shut down a stretch of Trulls Road for hours.
Durham Regional Police say officers from the Traffic Services Branch were dispatched to Trulls Road, just north of Prince Rupert Drive, shortly after noon on May 18 following reports of a serious crash involving a black GMC pickup truck and a grey Chevrolet SUV.
According to investigators, the GMC pickup truck was travelling southbound on Trulls Road when it collided with the northbound Chevrolet SUV. The force of the impact left the driver of the pickup truck, a 63-year-old man, with life-threatening critical injuries. He was rushed to a local hospital, where he remained in critical condition as of Sunday evening.
The driver of the Chevrolet SUV, a 48-year-old man, along with two passengers in the vehicle, were also transported to hospital for assessment and treatment. All three have since been medically cleared and released, police confirmed late Sunday afternoon.
Investigators believe the collision may have been triggered by a medical episode experienced by the driver of the pickup truck, although they stress that the investigation remains ongoing and no final determination has been made regarding the cause. The possibility that a medical emergency contributed to the crash is one of several avenues being explored by collision reconstruction experts.
Trulls Road was closed in both directions between Prince Rupert Drive and surrounding intersections for several hours while police documented the scene, measured skid marks, and collected evidence. The roadway has since been reopened to traffic.
The Clarington collision comes during one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, as Victoria Day long weekend traffic fills Durham Region roadways with families heading to cottages, parks, and holiday destinations. Durham Regional Police have been actively reminding drivers to exercise caution throughout the weekend as increased traffic volumes elevate the risk of collisions across the region.
Police are appealing to the public for assistance with their investigation. Anyone who was travelling on or near Trulls Road between 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. on Sunday and witnessed the collision or observed either vehicle prior to the crash is urged to come forward. Investigators are particularly interested in any dashcam footage that may have captured the moments leading up to or during the impact.
Detective Constable Tymcio of the Durham Regional Police Traffic Services Branch is leading the investigation and can be reached at 905-579-1520, extension 5256. Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit tips online.
This remains an active and developing investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact police as soon as possible.
Sunday’s crash in Clarington is the latest in a series of serious collisions across Durham Region in recent weeks, underscoring the importance of safe driving habits as summer approaches and road traffic continues to increase throughout the municipality and surrounding areas.
