ANTIGONISH, N.S. — ANTIGONISH COUNTY - It is a morning that Graham MacLean will never forget.
He was driving the third vehicle involved in a fatal accident Dec. 2 at the Beech Hill Road-Highway 4 intersection. He witnessed a logging truck collide with a car driven by a 41-year-old Toronto man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
When he shared some of his story during a Dec. 9 emergency meeting of Municipality of the County of Antigonish council, which focussed on the intersection and its dangers, he asked if anyone knew what it felt like to think an 18-wheeler is going to come through your windshield.
MacLean remembered stretching out in his seat, while the trailer sailed over the top of his smaller car. Noting its size probably helped him survive.
"I didn't know if I was alive," he said, in the immediate wake of the crash as he lay in his car.
MacLean now deals with health issues related to the accident, unsure when he will be able to return to work.
That evening, it was the first time he had travelled through the intersection, which he admitted sickened him.
"Something has got to be done," MacLean said.
Several other speakers delivered that same sentiment, including first responder Adrian Van de Sande.
He took a long pause before starting his remarks, while tears welled in his eyes.
"Do you realize the speed it would take to cause that destruction?" he asked, referencing the same collision that invovled MacLean.
Van de Sande added, "this should not be happening."
"There is no reason that we have to wait," he said, noting the speed limit could be reduced to 60k/h simply with the installation of a couple signs.
"We may not be able to stop the accidents, but we can slow down drivers," he said.
Van de Sande added he will "never, ever forget," that day.
Local paramedic Paula Delorey, describing the intersection as "too busy," suggested the "biggest thing" with the intersection is excessive speed.
Chris Smith, a business owner and longtime resident of Beech Hill Road, said the problems at the intersection are "nothing new."
"The province should be ashamed of itself ... something has to be done."
He noted his mother is now "scared to death" to travel through the intersection.
Smith and several other speakers noted the intersection will only get busier with upcoming development in the area.
Bernie Falkenham of Arisaig said he has driven across North America during his career, but he has "never seen an intersection like this one."
Like others, he stressed the need for short-term measures, such as rumble strips, improved signage and reduced speed limits.
"This is serious," Falkenham said.
Noting it "impacts everybody," Michael Power said people are "scared of this intersection."
High collison location
Before gallery members shared their thoughts, council heard from Chief Allan Kennedy of the Antigonish County Volunteer Fire Department, who has served in that leadership role for the past 20 months, as part of a more than 27-year career as a firefighter.
He explained the bulk of their calls to the highway stretches they cover are at the Beech Hill Road-Highway 4 intersection.
"It seems lately the severity has been worse than it has ever been," he said.
Kennedy also reflected on the toll these types of calls take on members.
"We have counselors calling us," he noted.
Kennedy gave a thumbnail of feedback from drivers and witnesses, when it comes to problems with the intersection, including poor signage.
"They also feel pressured and take chances," he said, referring to longer lineups at the stop signs.
Kennedy added there is also an assumption, for many, that it is a four-way stop.
He described the "major, major" factor in 90 per cent of the cases is excessive speed.
Although there is no guarantee lowering speed limits will solve the problem, it would "lessen the severity by a long shot."
Cst. Warren MacBeath of the Antigonish RCMP provided an overview of the two crashes that occurred at the intersection in less than one week; one on Dec. 2 that led to the fatality, along with a mid-afternoon three-vehicle collision Dec. 7.
"There were quite a few right off the bat," MacBeath said, remembering mishaps along that intersection when it re-opened after the twinning project was finished.
From a police perspective, MacBeath explained the intersection is considered a high collision location.
Basil Pitts, area manager with the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal (TIR), explained the traffic study on the corridor - one requested by county officials - had been "recently completed."
TIR officials confirmed they intend to begin design work this spring on the modifications, which will include a lane reduction and 'other intersection improvements' with construction scheduled in the 2021-22 capital plan.
'Extremely dangerous'
"A lot can happen before then," Deputy Warden Hughie Stewart said, commenting on the timeline for proposed permanent measures.
Coun. Donnie MacDonald suggested short-term measures, such as a four-way stop and deep rumble strips.
Coun. Bill MacFarlane cautioned problems not be moved "up or downstream."
"We don't want to shuffle the problems down a few kilometres," he said.
MacFarlane also asked for heightened presence from RCMP members, while carrying out "zero tolerance" for speeders.
"It is extremely dangerous," Coun. Mary MacLellan said, noting she has witnessed several "near-misses."
'Immediate action'
At the close of the emergency meeitng, council approved a resolution calling for TIR to take "immediate action."
The resolution includes a call for the provincial department to make the intersection a four-way stop, using portable signals for the interim; reduce the speed limit approaching the intersection with warning signage; and install rumble strips in all directions approaching the intersection.
"I think it is clearly stated tonight the importance of making some immediate changes to the intersection," Warden Owen McCarron told reporters.
He added "we have been saying it for a while."
County officials brought their concerns to the province for the first time in September of 2017.
With the resolution, council has also asked the province to accelerate the completion date for a permanent re-design at the intersection from 2021-22 to the spring of 2020.
"We want to work quickly, with the province, to see what remedy can happen immediately and then give way, maybe, to a longer-term solution," McCarron said.
He noted some of their suggested measures could take place "within a few days, if the province chooses to do so."
McCarron agreed the call for change heightened after the recent accidents.
"We just recognized that we need to actually amplify the concern and get that message clearly through. Our community has spoken out - we got many calls and emails over the course of the weekend - about the necessity to create the change and help create the change, and that's why we called this special meeting of council tonight."