Conflicting information given about Patterson's condition

Scott Patterson, in an earlier photo, taken by Gerry Geurts, London Ontario Curling Zone.
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There are conflicting reports about the condition of North Bay curler Scott Patterson.

A Sudbury hospital official had said Patterson, 33, was in critical condition at the St. Joseph's Health Care Centre following a serious three-car motor vehicle accident in Wahnapitae Friday night around 6 p.m.

BayToday.ca published a story based on that information.

Several hours later BayToday.ca talked to North Bay curler Mark Brown, who is curling in the same Sudbury competition Patterson was headed to.

He said Patterson had died at 10:15 this morning. Brown also said Patterson's parents and brothers were on their way to Sudbury.

BayToday.ca published a story based on that information.

Alive on life support
When reached in Sudbury, Viviane Lapointe, Senior Advisor, Corporate Communications, for the Sudbury Regional Hospital Corporation, would not confirm Brown's information, stating only that Patterson "is in critical condition."

Brown was contacted again.

He had said doctors had told him Patterson had "passed away" and was being kept alive on life support so his organs could be used for transplantation purposes.

Another source had also told BayToday she had spoken to two members of Patterson's team who had survived the crash,
and had been given the same information Brown provided.


Hit black ice
Patterson and his CFB Curling Club rink, which includes Greg Cantin, John McClelland and Gerry Cantin, were on their way to the Sudbury Curling Club for the Northern Ontario Curling Association Challenge Round when the accident occurred.

Brown said a half-ton truck driving in the opposite direction hit black ice, spun around several times and then hit Patterson's van on the driver side.

McLelland sustained scratches and bruises, Gerry Cantin suffered a broken arm and an injured knee but was released today, Brown said, while Greg Cantin suffered a ruptured spleen.

Hit black ice
The accident occurred on Hwy 17, between Hwy 537 and Mills Road, OPP said.

A store owner in Wahnapitae contacted by BayToday.ca said that piece of highway is on a hill.

The store owner, who gave his name as Frank, said the fire departments from Wahnapitae and Coniston were dispatched to the accident.

“The highway there was terribly ice.”

Frank said the highway was closed after the accident but reopened at around 9 p.m.

OPP said two people involved in the accident had to be extricated from their vehicle with the Jaws of Life.

Patterson has been to two Canadian championships, Nokia Brier, in 1994 and 1999.

He is married to Tracey, and they have a five-year-old daughter and two-year-old son.

BayToday.ca will continue updating this story throughout the evening as information becomes available.