Tower Killed in Accident - 02.09.21 (Canada)

[TowNews]

Tow truck driver, 59, was in 'medical distress' before truck hit house near Napanee

 

The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon.

 

A Greater Napanee man was in “medical distress” when his tow truck went off Lennox and Addington County Road 9 and crashed into a home on Tuesday, the Ontario Provincial Police said Wednesday.

 

First responders were called to the scene between Abrams and Fitchett roads just before 4 p.m. Tuesday.

 

Derry Rankin, 59, was pronounced dead at the scene, the OPP said.

 

The results of an autopsy suggest Rankin experienced medical distress behind the wheel, which investigators believe was a factor in the crash, police said.

 

A passenger in the tow truck, which was pulling another vehicle, and the occupants of the house were not seriously injured in the collision, the release said.

 

A stretch of County Road 9 was closed while collision investigators examined the scene and the tow truck was removed from the house.

 

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Tow truck driver identified as victim in fatal collision

 

Ontario Provincial Police have identified the victim of a fatal collision that took place Tuesday afternoon on County Road 9 in Napanee.

 

Derry Rankin, 59, died Tuesday after suffering medical distress while driving.

 

Just before 4 p.m., a tow truck pulling another vehicle left the road and collided with a two-storey house in the 1800 block of County Road 9. The driver and a passenger were in the tow truck.

 

While the passenger was uninjured, the driver, Derry Rankin, 59, of Greater Napanee, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“A post-mortem examination has now been completed which indicates that the driver encountered medical distress while driving,” the OPP said. “Investigators believe that this medical situation was a contributing factor in the cause of the collision.”

 

The occupants of the house were not seriously injured in the crash.

 

“Derry, our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend passed away from a heart attack yesterday, while driving his tow truck,” Leenita Babcock, Derry’s sister-in-law, wrote on the Rankin’s Repair Service Facebook page. “Derry will be missed dearly by so many people.

 

“Derry’s family appreciate all of the comments, calls and messages, however they are not able to respond to everyone at this difficult time.”

 

Babcock said Derry owned Rankin’s Towing and Derry’s Towing. A private service will be held for family in the coming weeks and a celebration of life will be hosted at a later date.

 

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