The Mississauga News – May 2, 2006 – By Louie Rosella
Mayor faces charges following accident
Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion has been charged under the Highway Traffic Act and slapped with a $110 fine for crashing her car into a signpost last Wednesday night.
Peel Regional Police Superintendent Dave Hazelton confirmed today an unspecified charge has been laid after McCallion’s car sustained considerable damage in the single vehicle accident.
Details on the charge will have to come from the mayor, Hazelton said. McCallion, 85, was not available for comment.
The charge comes after a five-day investigation by the force’s Traffic Services unit.
McCallion crashed her Buick into a signpost while travelling south on McLaughlin Rd., near Britannia Rd., on her way home at around 9 p.m. April 26.
Although the airbags deployed and the front end of her Buick was severely damaged, McCallion walked away from the crash scene without any injuries.
The mayor said she was returning from a police awards ceremony. She said she was taking a business call on her hands-free cell phone when the crash occurred, but insists the call did not contribute to the collision.
A few days after the accident, McCallion agreed to hire a driver to take her to public events related to her job.
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Print version; The Mississauga News – May 3, 2006 – By Louie Rosella
Mayor faces traffic penalty
Mayor Hazel McCallion has been slapped with a $110 fine for crashing her car into a signpost last week.
Peel Regional Police Superintendent Dave Hazelton confirmed yesterday that McCallion has been charged under the Highway Traffic Act.
Hazelton wouldn’t reveal the charge, but McCallion, 85, said last night she was charged with making an illegal right-hand turn. She said she has already made out the cheque to pay the fine.
McCallion agreed with police that she was wrong in attempting to make the turn and said she wasn’t surprised the charge was laid.
“I would think police would treat the mayor as, they would any other citizen in Mississauga,” she said. “Mayors shouldn’t be getting any special treatment, and should pay the fine if they’ve done something wrong, as any other citizen should.”
The charge was laid after a five-day investigation by the Peel police Traffic Services unit.
McCallion crashed her Buick into a signpost while travelling southbound on McLaughlin Rd., near Britannia Rd., on her way home at around 9 p.m. on April 26.
Although the airbags deployed and the front end of her car was severely damaged, a visibly-shaken McCallion walked away from the crash scene without any injuries.
The mayor said she was on her way home from a police awards ceremony. She said she was taking a business call on her hands-free cell phone when the crash occurred, but insists that had nothing to do with the collision.
Late last week, McCallion admitted it’s time she had a driver take her to job-related events. City of Mississauga Manager Janice Baker said she hopes an interim driver for the mayor will be in place by the end of the week. Beyond that, the City and McCallion will decide on a permanent solution.
McCallion said she wouldn’t feel comfortable having a driver pick her up at home in the morning and then bring her back to her residence at night.
