The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure:

Speaker, on March 21, two Transportation and Infrastructure employees at Cold Brook Depot, Mr. Roland Beanland and Mr. John Tobin, were conducting a regular road condition check on Route 460 when they came upon a vehicle that had sustained major damage. They subsequently found a young man still seated behind the wheel, and soon learned the vehicle had hit a moose and, while the driver was conscious, he was not coherent.

The men called 911 and proceeded to get the vehicle out of harm’s way. While they waited for emergency services to arrive, the two men – along with the assistance of another passerby – attended to the young man. At times, they thought they had lost him, but they continued their efforts to keep him conscious and alive.

The next day, they learned the young man had sustained serious injuries. The doctor stated it was most likely their efforts that kept him alive.

Speaker, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to these employees for their courageous efforts. It is not always recognized that our public service employees – who are on our roadways in every region of our province as part of their daily work – sometimes play the role of first responder until help arrives.

I ask all members to rise and thank Mr. Roland Beanland and Mr. John Tobin for their valiant efforts in helping to save a life.