Bus accident at flooded Division/ElginSt. intersection

COBOURG & PORT HOPE —

UPDATE 10 a.m. – The best way to get into Cobourg is via Burnham and William streets from the north and west.

7 a.m. About a dozen people in vans and cars were trapped in the rising waters on Division at Elgin streets shortly before 7 a.m. today. About an hour later a school bus and car were in collision at the intersection. None of the St. Mary’s high school students was injured, say Cobourg police. They were transferred to another vehicle and taken to school. The investigation is continuing.

Motorists driving into Cobourg from both the north and east early this morning were greeted by flooded roadways but vehicles were still carefully making their way through the waters across King Street East near Brookside about that same time. At the main northern intersection into Cobourg, however, while buses and transports pushed waves of water ahead of them to whoosh through, smaller vehicles were at the mercy of the ever-deepening water.

“I was afraid someone was going to smash into me,” said Tracy Catherwood, minutes after being towed free.

She said she had made it through the intersection before 7 a.m. to drop off her brother and boyfriend at their respective places of work but when she drove back through the Division/Elgin intersection again her van stopped and wouldn’t move.

“When I tried to get out the water rushed in,” Catherwood said. So she quickly slammed the door shut and waited.

Shortly after 7:30 a.m. a tow truck rescued her and another six vehicles, she said from her dry-land location at the rental centre on Elgin Street. About another half dozen were still waiting for help.

The scene just after 7 a.m. was an erie one in the dawn light with people hesitating as they come southbound on Division wondering if they could make it through. Flashing lights by some of those trapped tried to warn others of the danger ahead. Some turned back and others continued through to get bogged down in the water in an area as far north as the Tim Hortons area on Division and south to the southern McKeen dealership property line adjacent to the plaza on the opposite side of the street.

The works yard on Veronica Street was a bee hive of activity and some vehicles were using this route to circumvent the flooded area. Works personnel waded between trapped vehicles to tell them assistance was on its way. A voice rang out: “The water is still getting higher.”

As the rain continued to pelt down, the water of Cobourg Creek rushed over the dam at Elgin and Ontario streets flooding the golf course area and over the top of the foot bridge.

In neighbouring Port Hope water blocked the use of Marsh and Fox streets.

“Cars will stall out,” said a Port Hope police dispatcher about those trying to get through.

A washout at Dorset St. W. and Trafalgar streets was also impeding traffic early this morning.