North Bay man involved in Patterson crash

A North Bay man was driving the pick-up truck which collided with the van being driven by North Bay championship curler Scott Patterson, Ontario Provincial Police said.

Members of the Sudbury OPP detachment are continuing their investigation into the three-vehicle collision that occurred at approximately 6:30 p.m., on Highway 17, Wahnapitae, just East of Highway 537.

Patterson and his CFB Curling Club rink were on the way to Sudbury for a competition when the accident occured.

Police said an eastbound pick up truck lost control on black ice, crossed the centre line and struck a westbound mini van at which time another westbound vehicle rear-ended the mini van.

Four people were injured in the collision. The driver of the pick up truck, Daniel Louis Gagnon, 29, of North Bay, and his daughter, Josee, 8, were not injured.

Patterson, 34, along with three occupants, Gerry Cantin, Greg Cantin, and John McClelland, all of North Bay, were injured and taken to St. Joseph's Health Centre by ambulance. Patterson remains in critical condition in hospital.

His passengers sustained non-life threatening injuries and also remain in hospital. The driver of the third vehicle, Lise St. Denis, age 34, of Wahnapitae, along with her five children were not injured.

Patterson and his teammates, representing CFB North Bay curling team, were on their way to the Northern Ontario Curling Association men's tankard at the Sudbury Curling Club when the collision occurred.

An OPP technical traffic collision investigator and a collision reconstructionist remain at the scene. The highway is expected to be closed at certain times throughout the day today as officers complete their investigation.