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Michener Road crash leaves teen struggling for his life
A white Hyundai sits on its side after crashing into a hydro box and utility pole. Photo Greg Holden
By Greg Holden
One young Chatham man is fighting for his life after an accident on Michener Road, between Webb Street and Goldpark Road at about 2 a.m. this morning.
A white late-model Hyundai Genesis lost control while driving southbound on Michener, lost control and destroyed a lamp pole and a hydro box which burst into flames. One police report said the car hit a parked car before coming to a rest on its side. No parked car was seen at the accident site by this writer. Witnesses to the accident said all six occupants were ejected from the car, which was not confirmed by the police.
Hydro was knocked out for blocks. Three ambulances took away the injured. Police have confirmed there were six people in the car and the car had only four seats. The also confirmed at least one person was ejected.
One of the male passengers, a 19-year-old Chatham man, sustained life threatening injuries and was air-lifted to London Health Sciences Centre where he underwent emergency surgery. The other occupants, including the driver, a 21-year-old Chatham man sustained non-life threatening injuries. A second 19-year-old man suffered a broken arm and a 20-year-old woman suffered a broken collar-bone. The other occupants were treated for minor injuries and released.
Local residents at the scene told the CKReview they had made complaints about the same car in the past.
Damage to the car is estimated at $40,000.
Brandon Bertotti has been charged with multiple offences, including impaired driving causing bodily harm. Photo Facebook
Brandon Bertotti, 21, of Chatham has been charged with three counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm, three counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, three counts of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, driving with no insurance and driving with no validation on his licence plate.
He has been released with a court date.
Police are still investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact Constable Michael Pearce at 519-355-1092. Anonymous callers may contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) and may be eligible for a cash reward.
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Annoynomous
August 11, 2021 at 5:58 pm
Hello,
Just to inform you the above article you have written completely confuses me.
The information seems like you heard it from your neighbors neighbor. Please see either the article on The Chatham Daily News website or the Blackburn News website site, since these are actual news sites and not someones opinion.
Information on these sites can effect the families involved.
Next time make sure you know what you are writing before you write it.
Thanks
Chatham Citizen
Greg Holden
August 11, 2021 at 6:04 pm
If you are completely confused by this article then state where.
I was at the scene. Neither the Chatham Daily News or Blackburn were at the scene. They didn’t arrive until many hours later. I was there 5 minutes after it occurred and reported what witnesses said on the spot. There is nothing misleading or confusing about what they said.
This is an actual news site. We attend accident scenes and report on them. On this instance we were the sole local media who did.
Greg Holden
August 11, 2021 at 6:09 pm
I can also report that witnesses saw the police get very angry with the teens they say were scattered in the street. Police were allegedly attempting to verify who the driver was and met with some resistence, before finally finding out who was behind the wheel.
Annoynomous
August 11, 2021 at 6:38 pm
Your article says that Brandon Bertotti was the 19 year old driver.
However Brandon was the 21 year old driver and the 19 year old passenger was transported to London.
(The only other 19 year old was a girl.)
You may be the first one on the scene but your information is not exact, its what you heard from the people on the scene. Who arrived after it happened and who speculate to what they think may of happened.
For example: “Witnesses to the accident said all six occupants were ejected from the car, which was not confirmed by the
police.” <<= what you heard!
Also no parked car was involved. That was confirmed on The Chatham Daily News site.
No matter the way the article was written, these kids could have all been killed. Young adults need to open there eyes, its not all about getting drunk and flying down the road to show off to his friends.
The car had to much power for such a young driver.
Greg Holden
August 11, 2021 at 6:49 pm
“Your article says that Brandon Bertotti was the 19 year old driver”
Which has been noted and corrected. The article did say at one point he is 21 and at another that he was 19.
“The only other 19 year old was a girl”
False according to the Chatham-Kent police. The press release was quite clear, written by Michael Pearce. He said, “A 19-year-old man was ejected during the collision and suffered life threatening injuries. He was later transferred to the London Health Sciences Centre via ORNGE air ambulance where he underwent emergency surgery. A second 19-year-old man suffered a broken arm and a 20-year-old woman suffered a broken collar bone.”
If you have information that contradicts the police then by all means present it.
Greg Holden
August 11, 2021 at 6:53 pm
“For example: “Witnesses to the accident said all six occupants were ejected from the car, which was not confirmed by the
police.” <<= what you heard!”
Obviously. That is why it says it was not confirmed. I arrived soon after the accident and no-one was in the car at that time. The people I spoke with lived 15 meters away from the accident.
“Also no parked car was involved”
I was there. I know that. The original press release by Gary Conn said there was a parked car involved.
“That was confirmed on The Chatham Daily News site.”
No-one from the Chatham Daily News was there. I was there for over an hour after the accident and I was the only press to be there. This happens. There are many accidents we miss here. It simply is how that one worked out.
annoynomous
August 11, 2021 at 9:13 pm
I am wondering if you have the legal right to post a picture of the accused without his permission.
Greg Holden
August 11, 2021 at 9:18 pm
Yes. We can use any copyrighted material so long as it pertains to the story. The police released the name of the street he lives on. The CKReview did not run that information. If you have any questions about editorial policy, feel free to ask.
In this instance the address of the accused did not add to the body of the story. His photo does.
Rusty
August 12, 2021 at 12:40 pm
The news report also failed to state that the driver fled the scene on foot and was caught by the police further down the road. The “parked car” was actually in a driveway and was hit by either the falling metal light pole or by the branches of the tree that also came down - damage was to the right rear taillight area.
As for posting the dude’s picture, one of the girls in the accident mentioned they had been out drinking so posting a picture of this bozo is the least they should do. Why the police even let him out of jail is mind-numbing.
Leonard A Pease
August 11, 2021 at 11:16 pm
Regardless of who is right or wrong her there is a young man with life threatening injurys and all you guys can do is bicker back and forth. I think you should take a step back and look at the whole picture here. It is a very tragic thing that has happened and we all should be praying that the young man makes a full recovery as well as the rest of the ones that have been injured.
dog pound
August 12, 2021 at 11:52 am
i agree it was a tragic accident lots of thoughts and prayers need to go out to this family.Their son is fighting for his life to get back to his family. Thoughts and prayers r what is going to bring him back to his family and loved ones.and u guys fight over whats right and wrong in a new article r u guys serious wow that blows my mind..get over it this guy needs support of getting better and making a full recovery so lots of prayers r needed thanks.thoughts and prayers go out to Andrew for u to fight and come back to your family love u all hugs.
Leonard A Pease
August 11, 2021 at 11:20 pm
P.S. Just to let you know I do not know any of the people that are involved.
doesnt matter
August 12, 2021 at 12:01 am
bunch of ass clowns if you wanna drink and drive you will suffer the consequences plain and simple
dog pound
August 12, 2021 at 1:43 pm
yes they made bad decision that night but u don’t have to be so mean.u r telling me u didn’t make bad choices when u were that young that’s bs and u know it everybody has. so if u don’t have anything positive to say keep it to yourself. a 19yr old is fighting for his life and u think he should suffer with the consequences r u kidding me your heartless and an idoit.
richard
August 12, 2021 at 1:10 am
reality is(who cares the conflict in age)its just another hot headed kid bein reckless and stupid,in daddy,s car drinking and driving like an idiot and putting other people,s lives in danger…lay all the charges you can on him CP, he earned it,see how much of a show off you are in front of a judge or worse…in front of a coffin…
dog pound
August 12, 2021 at 2:08 pm
yes I agree it was stupid and dangerous and tried to show off but what kid don’t at that age they all do it so this kid isn’t the first kid to do it and wont be the last to do it.we have all done stupid things in our life when we were younger .but they all made the decision to get in that car its not just the drivers fault in my eyes. I think this was an eye opener for them all.but I do believe he should get punished for what he did but come on what u r saying is mean hes just a kid.that made stupid choices they all did.it was my aunts nephew that was airlifted to London we pray everyday that he will ok and have a full recovery.Andrew is a fighter I know in my heart he will fight his way back to his family.
Concerned Reader
August 19, 2021 at 1:15 pm
furthermore my thoughts and prayers are with Andrew if it wasnt for him i would more then likely attending a funeral with my family.. This young boy risked his own life by providing critical thinking at the right moment which ultimately saved the life of my family involved in this accident. Regardless the actions taken by the individuls of the inncident, regardless of how accurate the new was presented, the bottom line is that this accident has occured, it has rocked and disstablized families. The injured will heal with the memory and we pray they will make better choices moving forward. The accused will have justice coming to them, and we ultimately hope that everyone has learned from this, involved or not.