In the Press

EDITORIAL: OTTAWA SUN
TRUCK TIRES FLY OFF, KILL YOUNG DAD ON HWY 401
First posted: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 09:55 AM EST | Updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 10:28 AM EST

BROCKVILLE - - The Mallorytown-area father of two who was killed Sunday night in a collision on Highway 401 in Brockville is being fondly remembered as a family man.

"Family was a big thing," said Larry Eligh, Jason Eligh's father. "He had his children every weekend and his sister and her two boys were a big part of his life too."

Jason Eligh was killed at about 8:30 p.m. Sunday night, when a westbound tractor trailer on Hwy. 401 lost a rear dual wheel set, Leeds County Ontario Provincial Police reported on Monday. The wheels flew over the concrete barrier, striking an eastbound 2005 Dodge Neon near the County Rd. 29 exit.

Eligh was the driver and lone occupant of the car.

The wheel set continued on, police said, striking another vehicle before it bounced back over the concrete barrier into the westbound lanes, coming to rest in the north ditch.

Eligh, 24, was the son of Larry and Sandra Eligh. He grew up in the Mallorytown area and graduated from Thousand Islands Secondary School in 2004.

For the past few years, Jason Eligh was an employee at Maple Leaf Environmental (MLE) Equipment in Brockville. Bob Kennedy, president of MLE Equipment, said everyone at work continues to be in a bit of shock over the tragedy.

"Jason was a great employee, always willing to pitch in on anything," Kennedy said. "He was a hard worker, good imagination and got involved with everything we were doing – hockey, paintballing, dragon boats."

A fellow worker on a social media site stated "all of MLEE is missing and hurting today. You've left many friends and fond memories here."

Many other similar comments made by friends on Jason Eligh's Facebook page share memories along with well-wishes for his grieving family.

"I hope your children grow up knowing their father was a great man and that he did everything for them," said a friend on Facebook. "They say the great die young! I give my heart to your family Jay."

After the incident, the tractor trailer was located about 100 km from the accident scene on Highway 401 by OPP officers. Highway 401 eastbound remained closed until about 5 a.m. Monday for the investigation, police said. A post-mortem examination was scheduled for Monday in Ottawa. Members of the Leeds County detachment are continuing the investigation with the assistance of the OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigations Unit.

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