80-year-old charged after Hwy 17 fatal crash

The OPP have now laid a charge in connection with a highway accident that claimed the life of a Thunder Bay man about six months ago.

Albert Pautsch of Hawkestone, Ont. is expected to appear in court next month to face a charge of careless driving.

Police said the 80-year-oldwas the operator of a pickup truck that collided with an oncoming car on Highway 17 near Ignace. In that incident, 32 year old Blake Cheslock of Thunder Bay was killed. His 2-year-old daughter was injured and taken to a Winnipeg hospital for treatment.

Pautsch and a 17-year-old passenger, also from Hawkestone, were treated for injuries in Dryden.

The accident happened two days before Christmas.