Police have identified the two people who were killed in a head-on crash on Highway 28 in North Kawartha Township on Saturday afternoon (August 21).
Claudio Benetti, 64, and Janice Benetti, 65, both of Stoney Creek, were pronounced dead at the scene after a collision involving two vehicles at around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Another person, presumably the driver of the second vehicle, was transported to a Toronto-area hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police have provided no update on this person’s condition.
Police continue to investigate the collision and are asking any witnesses, or anyone with dash camera footage of the incident, to call the Peterborough County OPP Detachment at 705-742-0401 or the non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122. If you wish to provide information anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers Peterborough & Northumberland at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at stopcrimehere.ca.
The collision happened at Big Cedar, south of Woodview, on a stretch of Highway 28 known for its high volume of traffic, especially during the summer months, along with a high number of accidents.
This past May, North Kawartha Mayor Carolyn Amyotte spoke with Peterborough County OPP staff sergeant Chris Galeazza about collision “hot spots” on the highway, the top five reasons for collisions, and more.
VIDEO: Staying Safe of 28!
It's Spring in North Kawartha and that means the return of many things: hummingbirds, blackflies and crazy traffic on Highway 28. Peterborough County OPP Staff Sargent Chris Galeazza joins me in my latest video update to talk about Highway 28 'Hot Spots', the top 5 reasons for accidents, and how North Kawartha Township's upcoming request for Community Safety Zones is an effective way to address our highway safety concerns.
Posted by Mayor Carolyn Amyotte on Friday, May 14, 2021
“On this highway alone, there are three significant hot spots — the hamlet of Big Cedar, Woodview where we are today, and up the highway in Apsley,” Galeazza said, adding the top five reasons for collisions on the highway are animal strikes, speeding too fast for conditions, inattentive driving, following too closely, and driver fatigue.
Amyotte, who is also chair of the North Kawartha police services board, said the township will be requesting the provincial government designate the three stretches of Highway 28 as “community safety zones”.
Through a 1998 regulation under the Highway Traffic Act, municipalities can request areas on provincially maintained highways be designated as community safety zones. In the zones, which are identified through signage, many set penalties are doubled — including for speeding and careless driving.
