Beaver staff
Early Wednesday morning officers of the Lennox and Addington County OPP responded to head on collision on Hwy 401 eastbound, east of Palace Road.
Investigation revealed that a pickup truck was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of Hwy 401 when it collided with a transport truck.
According to TSN, former NHL player John Erskine was in the pickup truck that was travelling in the wrong direction. He was transported to hospital with non life-threatening, though severe injuries. The driver of the transport truck was not injured.
Erskine’s former agent told TSN that his former client was in town to watch the Napanee Raiders’ Game 5 of the Schmalz Cup finals.
The highway was closed for several hours following the accident. Police are continuing to investigate.
Prior to making the NHL, Erskine played with Deseronto’s Quinte Hawks for the 1996-97 season. He would go on to play for the Dallas Stars, New York Islanders and Washington Capitals before retiring in 2014. The 38-year-old played 491 NHL games, recording 15 goals and 39 assists.