Following an accident in which visitors to the area wound up driving their SUV off Huntsville’s Lions Lookout and had to be rescued by emergency personnel, Doppler contacted the Town of Huntsville’s CAO to ask whether there were concerns with safety at the popular vantage point.
“I can confirm that the Town has replaced the parking block and the boulder that was displaced during the accident,” said Town CAO Denise Corry in an email statement.
“The Town of Huntsville is satisfied that the barriers that are currently in place are a sufficient means of protection/safety under normal circumstances,” she added.
Asked what abnormal circumstances may have existed to cause the accident, Corry referred Doppler to the Huntsville OPP Detachment, which investigated the incident and determined that no charges would be laid.
Detachment Staff Sergeant John-Paul Graham said the accident was considered an isolated incident. He also said there are no concerns for safety at the Lookout and noted that the names of those involved would not be released.
“In the interest of the out of country tourists, we will not be releasing their names. This collision was determined to be an isolated accident. There is no safety concern,” he wrote in an email to Doppler.
“We appreciate all efforts made by the town officials, first responders and tow operators in response to such a unique event,” he added.
Related (with photos):
No charges laid in Lions Lookout accident
Vehicle goes off the edge of Lions Lookout
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There are many hazardous locations throughout Ontario (and, indeed, Canada). We simply do not have the resources to make all of them “idiot-proof” (but people should be warned with appropriate signage).
We used to live in S. Ontario near the Elora Gorge. Almost every year, some hapless hiker would slip off a muddy trail on the rim of the gorge and go plummeting into it, resulting in severe bodily injury or death. Why people do not have respect for (and proper fear of) these natural hazards is a mystery. Is it because the entertainment industry, by which we are constantly and totally immersed in the fantasy that nothing bad could ever come from that which is part of nature? Or is it intoxicating drugs (the primary one used is alcohol) which make us believe we are invincible?
The desire for self-preservation seems to be a trait that is missing in many of our species. How many unfortunate “selfies” with wild animals will prove that those animals are indeed, wild (hint: the word, “wild” means unpredictable and uncontrollable in their behaviour) and should not be provoked? How many have to fall off a cliff to understand that falling from a great height is dangerous to life and limb–and should be avoided by the prudent?
As a long time previous resident and observer of the mountain lookout, I can say that the public safety of the location has always been ignored. The road is unsafe at any speed, but to fix it ,you would have to spend millions. As a prime subject for tourism in our great town, there needs to be a better way, and unfortunately it means better signs and some guidance to someone who has never seen a roadway as poorly controlled.
Thanks for the update! It is irrelevant who the subjects are – as a community? What Is relevant is whether or not this incident impacts our community.