Ward 2 local councillor Harold Lodwick, 60, was returning from a Hawaiian vacation with his wife when the accident occurred, said Brock Mayor Larry O'Connor. His wife suffered minor injuries.
In a heartfelt message this morning, Mayor O'Connor said all members of council, past and present, will miss the Beaverton representative dearly.
"Our hearts go out to the Lodwick family and as we grieve let's not forget the many wonderful ways he touched our lives," he said.
Coun. Lodwick was serving his third term on council, after serving his first two between 1997 and 2003.
"It isn't too often that you hear about a politician that everybody just likes, but Harold was the guy," said the mayor.
Later, in an interview, Mayor O'Connor described the retired Ministry of Transportation employee as a down-to-earth man involved in many local committees.
"He wasn't the meeting sort of committee guy, he's the guy who has the truck and moves things around, gets his hands dirty," he said.
In his message, the mayor also described Coun. Lodwick as a staunch defender of Beaverton, at one point earning the nickname Harbour Harold for his love of the Beaverton harbour and his efforts to support it.
York Regional Police say Coun. Lodwick was driving northbound on Woodbine Avenue near Mount Albert Road in East Gwillimbury just before noon on Tuesday. For unknown reasons, his PT Cruiser entered the southbound lane and collided with a Ford landscaping truck. The truck tried to avoid the oncoming car, but the PT Cruiser struck the side of it. Coun. Lodwick was ejected from the car and pronounced dead on the scene.
His wife and the driver and passenger of the landscaping truck were taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries.
York Regional Const. Marina Orlovski said road conditions were clear and dry.
"Right now it's unknown reasons, that's why we're seeking witnesses to this collision," she said.
Anyone with information can contact the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 1-888-876-5423 ext. 7704 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
