Benjamin Donald Carver named as victim of crash on Highway 104
Hwy 104 was blocked in both directions for several hours with traffic diverted
RCMP have released the name of a 37 year-old man who died Friday morning when a pickup truck crashed with a tractor-trailer in Marshy Hope, about 20 kilometres west of Antigonish, N.S.
Benjamin Donald Carver was from Sheet Harbour. His death marked the third fatal accident on a 38 kilometre stretch of highway in 2014.
Barney's River Fire Chief Joe MacDonald says they were called out to Highway 104 around 5:30 a.m.
The driver of the pickup was pronounced dead at the scene. RCMP said he was from Sheet Harbour.
MacDonald said it was the third fatality along that untwinned section of Highway 104 this year and the 14th fatality since 2009.
"It's scary," he said. "It's scary and until it's twinned, it's probably not going to get any better."
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Geoff MacLellan said he worries about safety. He points out that there has been some shoulder widening and rumble strips installed, but admits twinning the highway right now is just too expensive.
A Department of Transportation spokesperson said it would cost $100 million at least.
MacLellan said the province is launching a safety review of that corridor of Highway 104 to be completed in February.
Mildred Dewar lives close to the accident scene and says hydroplaning is also a problem on the highway. She said vehicles often skid off the road and end up in her son's horse field. She said drivers need to watch their speed.
"People don't want to slow down and I don't know why," she said.
Dwar said twinning the highway is a good idea as well, but she has her doubts.
"I'll tell you, I'll never see it in my day to tell you the honest truth,' she said.
Members of Pictou County and Antigonish County RCMP blocked the highway in both directions.Traffic was diverted for several hours eastbound at Exit 29A, and westbound at Exit 30.
Police say the cause of the crash hasn't been determined.
MacDonald said it's an all-too-familiar scene.
"Most of these fatalities are collisions," he said. "When two cars meet at 100 kilometres per hour, [it's] awful. It ends up with fatalities."
RCMP said a collision analyst has been brought in to assist investigators.