Table Mountains

Woman killed in TCH collision was pregnant: RCMP

(CBC NEWS) The woman killed in a weekend highway collision in eastern Newfoundland was pregnant, police said Monday.

The RCMP said Lisa Jennifer Crann, 31, was the woman killed after a tractor-trailer rear-ended her vehicle Friday night on the Trans-Canada Highway, near the Southern Harbour turnoff.

Crann's vehicle had broken down, but was still in the way of oncoming traffic, RCMP Const. Trevor O'Keefe told CBC News.

"From what we can determine, it was right in the driving lane, the inside lane of the highway," Const. Trevor O'Keefe said.

"The car had broken down — we don't know if it was a battery problem or an alternator problem — but there was no emergency lights, and that's pretty much what caused it," O'Keefe said.

The vehicle has been seized as the RCMP conduct their investigation.

Road conditions were slippery at the time, O'Keefe said.

"It was one of those really dark, black, wet nights. You couldn't see much on the highway," O'Keefe said.

A 25-year-old female passenger in Crann's vehicle was injured. She was treated in hospital and released on Saturday, O'Keefe said.

Cpl. Rupert Baker said motorists should be cautious when driving on the highway, especially at night.

"In a situation where somebody breaks down or you have a problem on the highway, you have to either move as far as you can to the right of the highway or if you can get off the highway, I certainly recommend that you do that so that something coming behind you won't strike you," Baker said.

I drove home last night in whiteout conditions. Like many nights if i broke down there was no place for me to pull of to the right. The right did not exist. If i broke down all i could do was stay there and hope the vehicles behind me saw me before it was to late. My cellphone might of helped and i wonder if The RCMP would of came to my assistance? Im sure no tow truck would of last night. With 24 hour coverage by Works & Transportation some accidents might be avoided if they could assist and keep our highways cleaned better. After 10 pm in this province your very much on your own out there and outside of the Avalon or Corner Brook area don't expect to call 911 and seek help. It just does not work. Maybe in the 2008 budget we might finally see that in NL