Photo taken from the petition page at change.org
On Saturday, March 29th, around 9:30 a.m., tragedy struck on Highway 138 when Amanda Maloney—mother of two and beloved local bakery owner—was killed in a devastating collision involving two tractor-trailers. The accident occurred at the intersection of McNeil and Dyer Road, just 30 seconds from Amanda’s home and her business. In the days that followed, heartbroken community members have been speaking out, demanding change. Among them is Samantha Prendergast, who reached out to us to share her perspective, support the growing movement now known as Project Amanda, and help shine a light on the dangers that have plagued this stretch of road for far too long.
1.Who is behind this initiative? Are you working as individuals, a formal group, or part of an existing organization?
The initiative for the petition – deemed “Project Amanda” was started by Cara Sabourin. She is working as an individual, however, multiple members of the community have been coming forward online with their own stories of the dangers they’ve encountered on the 138, such as friends of Adriana Chretien who was killed in a head-n collision on the 138 back in 2020.
2.What motivated you personally to take action after Amanda’s tragic passing?
I think the motivation from everyone sharing and signing this petition is to put an end to the tragedies that continue to take place on the 138. As per an article published by CBC back in March of 2023, Cornwall Major Justin Townsdale, and Mayor of South Stormont Bryan McGillis also expressed their concerns regarding the dangers of the 138. MTO had released plans to improve intersections, replace culverts and repave a portion of the 138. While a round-a-bout was installed just south of St. Andrews – no improvements were made to the northern section of the 138 where Saturday’s action took place. Other members such as ex-municipal councillor Roxane Villeneuve pushed during her time for a traffic light installed at the intersection of Dyer road and the 138 – which she states, was turned down by the MPP at the time.
3.How did the idea for this petition come about, and who is helping organize it?
Many members of the community have been posting on social media – demanding answers from the local MPP – some calling for his resignation. A petition was started back in 2023 to improve the safety of the 138 and it did draw the attention of the MTO. In 2017 the MTO did release a report from Stantec with more than two dozen recommendations to improve the highway however these plans do not include any improvements to the intersection at Dyer road where Saturdays accident took place. Cara Sabourin is the organizer of the post – while many members of the community have been involved in sharing, commenting, posting and spreading the word.
4. What do you believe are the biggest dangers on Highway 138, especially near McNeil and Dyer Road?
The biggest dangers of the 138 is the lack of left hand turning lanes with the 2 lane traffic. Due to the connections between the industrial parks and the highway 417 and highway 401 there is a heavy tractor trailer presence. Tractor trailers which require plenty of time and space to break. Highway 138 also contains many turns on to rural roads where many members of the community lived. If there was 3 lanes of traffic, with a passing or left turning lane in the middle for her to use, Amanda may still be here today.
5. Are there particular times of day or traffic patterns that make this area more dangerous?
As mentioned above, the heavy presence of commercial tractor-trailers does impose a risk. The lack of streetlights along the 138 coupled with the rural areas of forests and fields which cover most of the 138 poses a threat for wild animals to dart out.
6. Have you or people you know raised concerns about this section of the highway before this tragedy?
There has been many concerns brought up about the 138 over the span of the last 10 years – hence the proposal produced by Stantec in 2017, the uprising of members in the community following the death of Adriana Chretien in 2020, and the petition created by Caroline Guibord to improve the 138 in 2023 which received over 2000 signatures.
7. What specific safety improvements are you asking the MPP and provincial government to implement? What does “change” look like to you?
Changes implemented would be the installing of a 3rd lane on the 138 – similar to what already exists on county rd 17, the installation of a left hand turning lane at areas where there are rural roads branching of the 138 such as Macneil road, Sand road, Gravel Hill road, etc. And an expansion in length of the right hand turning lanes that exist however cause drivers to need to break quickly prior to entering the right hand lane such as the turning lane at Sandringham road.
8. What has the public response to the petition and GoFundMe been like so far?
Project Amanda is up to 4,931 signatures on change.org while the GoFundMe has surpassed the original $10,000 goal and is now close to $30,000 raised after 21 hours. This money will substantially help Amanda’s daughters with their future educations, but will no dollar amount can ever replace a loving mother and the future these little girls have now lost.
9. What would you say to people who want to help but don’t know how?
For people who want to help, even if you can’t financially – it’s free to share. Make noise. Share your stories online about your concerns of the 138. Members of this community for years have talked about the dangers of the 138 – how everyone takes the back roads to get to cornwall. Share your stories, Sign the petition, share the petition. As a community, we did Adriana Chretien wrong. We forgot to continue to fight for safe roads. Not this time.
10. What do you hope this movement will achieve, both for highway safety and Amanda’s legacy?
Amanda’s death will not be her legacy. Her involvement in her childrens school and soccer team, her delicious baked treats, her warm smile, the countless stories of her volunteering and involvement in community events will be her legacy. We as a community need to demand – and push for the MTO to stop delaying the promises to improve the 138 – but rather deliver. These deaths are on their shoulders. Two little girls have been robbed of a mother, their childhoods have been shattered at 5 and 7 years old. We can’t do anything for those little girls. But by getting the MTO to listen, and deliver on the promises they made back in 2023, we can hope to save a life, provide roads that deliver mothers back home to their children, and protect childhoods from being shattered.
If you wish to sign the petition, click here. If you want to donate to Amanda’s family, you can do so via gofundme at https://gofund.me/4af82fcd
Editor’s Note: We contacted MPP Nolan Quinn for comment; however, no response was received by the time of publication.
Updated at 9:09 PM, April 1st
we received the following statement:
“I am deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Amanda Maloney; loving mother, devoted business owner, and vital member of our community. I have been in frequent contact with our Minister of Transportation and the county. Our government will be taking the necessary steps to increase safety on Highway 138, with further details to come later this year. I thank our first-responders for their action and extend my deepest condolences to Amanda’s family and friends in these difficult times.”
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Hwy138 always have people passing a whole lane of traffic but since it is only a two lane hwy…I usually have to break for the lone passing vehicle to avoid head on collision . Not fun.
Have this near Power Dam and 2nd in morning commute to work in Ingleside. In that case a truck came into my lane passing 3 cars behind me and cut into my car bumping my front driver side bumper with 3 mustangs followed the truck at high speed .
Even Hwy 2 just before Long Sault always some random car pulls out and pass a whole lane of traffic at high speed but like me going in the lane they decided to pass in….have to pull to side of road to avoid a collision.
There is no need to be in a rush for anything.
The person you involve in a head on has family …just using their car as weapons not a vessel to get from point a to point be.
Just not fun to drive someday