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TORONTO — An arrest has been made in the fatal early-morning crash on Highway 401 that police say was caused by a deliberate act of road rage.
Wayne Winsor, 39, a resident of Milton, Ont., has been charged with criminal negligence causing death, dangerous driving causing death, and failure to remain at the scene of an accident causing death.
Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant Cam Woolley said information from witnesses and evidence collected at the scene left no doubt that the fatality was caused by a drawn-out road rage incident that ended when the victim was ejected onto the highway after his vehicle lost control and “rolled violently.”
“Given the pattern of behaviour [reported by witnesses], this was not inadvertent,” Sgt. Woolley said.
Just after 5 a.m., a black SUV and a red car were seen speeding in the Toronto-bound lanes of Highway 401 in the Milton area.
Police say Mr. Winsor, in the red car, and the 55-year-old SUV driver had already been engaged in some kind of back and forth before then, and had been seen aggressively passing each other.
Mr. Winsor allegedly passed the black SUV and slammed on the brakes.
The driver of the SUV swerved to avoid a collision and was ejected from the vehicle after it hit the centre median and rolled.
Police wouldn't elaborate on the incident because they said they didn't want to taint any witness testimony.
“It's clear to us there was definitely some interaction between those two vehicles that was less than friendly,” Staff Sergeant Scott Lawson said.
“[But] at this point we're not giving out any concrete details other than to say there was road rage taking place.”
Speaking about road rage incidents in general, Woolley said he's dealt with plenty during his career, and there's no way to pigeonhole the type of drivers who lose control behind the wheel.
“We've seen even soccer moms [commit road rage],” Sgt. Woolley said.
He recommended that today's drivers get a grip on themselves.
“If someone does cut you off or you see another person driving badly, please don't try and get even – it can easily escalate out of control,” he said.
“People get so angry they lose judgment, but the law doesn't allow you to do the same offence back to them.”
Lawson couldn't comment on whether road rage is on the rise or decline, but said it is frequently spotted by police in varying degrees.
“Certainly they range in degrees of seriousness from looks and gestures right through to what I would describe as a criminal act.
“Clearly we take them seriously, and if we get a complaint or call on it, we act on it.”
