Charge laid after multi-vehicle collision caused by geese crossing E.C. Row expressway

Windsor police say a driver is facing a careless driving charge after stopping on the E.C. Row Expressway to let a family of geese cross the road.

This led to a collision involving a pickup truck and a transport truck, according to Staff Sgt. Rob Wilson.

"It sounds like a vehicle had stopped for a baby goose crossing the E.C. Row [Expressway]," he said.

"Another vehicle stopped and the transport truck collided with a portion of the pickup truck, causing it to veer off the ditch and roll over onto its side."

Wilson said the transport truck driver was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Driver describes geese crossing

Dale Cormier was driving eastbound toward Tecumseh when he spotted the geese starting to cross one of Windsor's busiest roadways.

"Oh my God, I just missed them," said Cormier, recalling three or four adult geese and nearly a dozen goslings by their side.

"It was just a little family of them." 

Cormier said once he passed the geese he noticed other drivers trying to avoid them in his rearview mirror. 

"Lucky for me, I had enough time ... I just saw the cars swerving behind me," he said.

He doesn't think any of the geese were injured. He called police as soon as it was safe to do so. 

"They didn't believe me at first."

Cormier said that there wasn't likely anything a driver could have done to avoid hitting the geese, but said people should be more cautious while driving.

He said drivers were traveling at high speeds and bumper to bumper. 

Police expect the eastbound lanes to be reduced for most of the day as they remove the transport truck.

Driving instructor provides advice

If drivers face a similar situation, they should make sure nobody is behind them before stopping, says Tristan Wallen, an instructor at Delta Driving School.

"Don't stop in the middle of the road," he said. "You want to get off the road, especially on a [fast]-moving road."

Wallen says instructors teach their students that "a human life is worth a lot more than an animal."

"You don't want to cause someone else to get injured because you were trying to save some a goose or a squirrel or whatever it was crossing the street," he continued.

The Ministry of Transportation's Driver's Handbook says in instances when animals are on the road, drivers should slow down and try to pass carefully "as they may suddenly bolt onto the road."