Collision outside Napanee District Secondary School leaves one student seriously injured
Editorial note: This article has been updated since it was originally published on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. The most recent updates are available at the bottom of this page.
A serious motor vehicle accident involving two students occurred today, Friday, Sep. 22, 2023, over the lunch hour at Napanee District Secondary School (NDSS).
According to a release from Limestone District School Board (LDSB), a car and a motorcycle collided in front of the school on Belleville Road. Both students have been taken to hospital, and one student has sustained serious injuries, the LDSB said.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are currently at the school and will be investigating. One officer was heard saying the investigation on Belleville Road should be over in time for buses to pick up students.
A message sent out to parents from Principal Paul McDonald gives the details above and notes, “Our school and the Limestone District School Board are working together to ensure students and staff are supported. Student Support counsellors from LDSB Educational Services are on-site and available to students and staff. We will update you with more information as it becomes available.”
Students commenting online who had purportedly witnessed the collision noted the serious-looking nature of the incident. It is unclear how many people were in the car involved in the collision.
Kingstonist has reached out the OPP for further information. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Update (Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at 2:58 p.m.):
The Lennox and Addington (L&A) County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have confirmed their officers are currently investigating a collision involving a motorcycle and a car that occurred out front of Napanee District Secondary School (NDSS).
According to the OPP, the collision occurred at approximately 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, on Belleville Road at Marilyn Avenue, just metres from the high school. The entrance and exit to the parking lot at NDSS is directly across from Marilyn Avenue. Police confirmed that the driver of the motorcycle was transported to hospital with serious injuries, and that the driver of the car was also transported to hospital due to minor injuries. There were no other individuals involved in the collision, the OPP said.
The Limestone District School Board (LDSB) had already confirmed that both individuals who were taken to hospital are students at NDSS (as above).
Belleville Road (County Road 1) has now been reopened to traffic, however, the investigation into the collision remains ongoing, according to the L&A OPP.
We funnel children into these mega schools from miles around creating traffic nightmares. We need more police presence around schools to slow drivers down or better still let’s go back to smaller schools again. This can’t be about money. We know that’s a lie because money can print as much as is needed.