One person remained in hospital Monday after a crash in Woodstock over the weekend involving two drivers suspected of street-racing.
The crashed vehicles came to rest on the front yard of a family home at the corner of Springbank Drive and Cree Avenue.
“Terrified, I was absolutely terrified,” exclaimed 15-year-old Chloe Will, who was awoken by the crash at her home. She said her mind was racing. “Everything. ‘Is everybody okay? Is anybody severely hurt? Anything like really damaged?’ and all that.”
Chloe’s brother, Andrew Will, said he had nearly dozed off when the violent crash shattered the peace.
“I was awake, going to sleep, and then I heard car skidding, then car crashing. I looked through my bathroom window and I see two cars in our driveway and my dad’s boat and truck in the backyard,” he explained.
Woodstock Police Service said officers responded to a crash on Springbank Drive at 2:37 a.m. Sunday. Police said two vehicles traveling northbound appeared to be racing as they crossed Devonshire Avenue. As they approached the bend at Cree, they collided with a parked car and a boat on a trailer. One passenger was taken to hospital in London where he remains in serious condition.
According to one neighbour CTV News spoke with, many in Woodstock’s racing sub-culture often gather in a commercial plaza parking lot at the corner of Springbank Drive and Devonshire Avenue at night, which is a short distance from the crash site.
“Typically, maybe around 12 o’clock till 2:00 because I can always hear them when I have my window open. People screeching tires, hanging out. Mostly trucks, to be honest. Just trying to do some type of drag race. I don’t know what it is exactly, but there is quite a bit of racing for sure, yeah,” explained Cem, who didn’t want his last name published.
Neighbour Linne Beckett said speeding on that particular curvy stretch of road is common at the best of times.
“Speeding is a consistency on this street,” exclaimed Beckett. “I moved here six months ago and the first thing I was warned when I moved here was watch for your turns because they just come barreling along here,” she said.
Woodstock Police Service said a 27-year-old Woodstock man has been charged with failing to remain at the scene and dangerous driving causing bodily harm. A 27-year-old Kitchener man has been charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm.
The crash remains under investigation.
