Scanned, recopied or Internet copy, if there are errors, please e-mail me with corrections:
Opening comments: More at the end.
How fast a story can change and yet stay the same - important facts withheld & readers left in the dark.
First version Second version
It is even more interesting how easy it is to mislead a reader with or without a few words. "running her car into a sign post", she ran it over and kept on going! Peel police say Toronto Star and Mississauga News have not accuracy reported Hazel McCallion's charge. That is right, the Peel police spoke-person for this, Superintendent Dave Hazelton, stated clearly to me that was the case, as the charge was unsafe right-hand turn. Maybe the reporters at the Toronto Star are trying to send a message?
As a person who has investigated the facts, what has been presented here greatly understates the seriousness of the accident, its threat to others and many are waking up to the facts by calling this a cover-up that serves the Mayor's political career by keeping the myth of the great Hazel McCallion alive. Rewriting history in the Soviet style is a Hazel McCallion hall mark and who is responsible for these misleading falsehoods? Why Hazel herself! I have asked the reporters why they write such things and was told without hesitation that is what she told us. Well, I am not so foolish to trust the word of self-serving politicians in general and know Hazel McCallion, oh too well.
Toronto Star - May 2, 2006, 1:32 pm - By Mike Funston & Bob Mitchell, staff reporters.
Mayor McCallion fined $110
Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion has been slapped with a $110 traffic ticket for running her car into a sign post last Wednesday night.
Peel Region police Superintendent Dave Hazelton confirmed today that an unspecified charge has been laid under the Highway Traffic Act.
Details on the charge will have to come from the mayor, Hazelton said. McCallion, 85, was not available for comment.
McCallion's leased Buick Park Avenue was damaged and the air bags deployed when she struck the post around 9.30 p.m. while making a turn off McLaughlin Rd., near Derry Rd. in Mississauga. She was returning from a police services board awards night.
McCallion wasn't injured and was back on the job next day. She was talking on a hands free car phone and had momentarily taken her attention off the road, she said. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, police said at the time.
McCallion was interviewed Monday after Chief Mike Metcalf ordered an investigation because of the high profile nature of the case.
*****
BERNARD WEIL/ TORONTO STAR
Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, 85, has been fined after a driving accident last week.
(Has a file picture of Hazel McCallion in some kind of terminal - same as before, not related to the story.)
Toronto Star - May 3, 2006, 5:16 pm - By Mike Funston & Bob Mitchell, staff reporters.
McCallion ticketed $110 for crash
85-year-old plans to get a driver
Mississauga mayor admits she erred
Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion has been slapped with a $110 traffic ticket after her car ran into a sign post last Wednesday night.
Peel Region police confirmed yesterday that a charge of making an illegal right-hand turn was laid under the Highway Traffic Act.
Yesterday, McCallion admitted she was wrong and said she will pay the ticket.
McCallion was interviewed Monday after police Chief Mike Metcalf ordered an investigation because of the high-profile nature of the case.
Her leased Buick Park Avenue was damaged and the air bags deployed when McCallion struck the post around 9:30 p.m. while making a turn off McLaughlin Rd. onto Britannia Rd. in Mississauga as she returned from a police services board awards night.
McCallion, 85, wasn't injured and was at work the next day. She said she was talking on a hands-free car phone and had momentarily taken her attention off the road.
Police said alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
McCallion, who always prided herself on travelling without a chauffeur, has bowed to pressure and agreed to get a driver.
"With my heavy agenda, my family wants me to have one and my council wants me to have one, so the city manager is making the arrangements. But it won't be full time," said McCallion, who added she has had numerous offers from people volunteering to drive her to appointments.
[COMMENTS BY DON B. - ]