ACCIDENTS: 1)Fatal cliff fall under investigation in Clearview Township; 2)Grass fire near encampment off Highway 400 forces brief lane closure; 3)OPP investigating two deaths in the region; 4)(Updated) Woman taken to hospital after vehicle plunges into construction pit in Barrie
1)Fatal cliff fall under investigation in Clearview Township
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, May 29, 2026
A 30-year-old man is dead after falling from a cliff in the Osprey Heights area of Clearview Township, near Singhampton.
Provincial police say emergency crews responded to the west end of Osprey Heights Road shortly after 3 p.m. Friday where it was reported a man had fallen a significant distance from the edge of a cliff. Despite lifesaving efforts by first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say the investigation continues, but add there is no evidence of foul play.
The OPP reminds members of the public to use caution when exploring outdoor areas with cliffs, steep terrain, and uneven footing.
“Staying on marked trails and maintaining a safe distance from edges can help prevent serious injury,” police said in a news release.
2)Grass fire near encampment off Highway 400 forces brief lane closure
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Julius Hern, May 30, 2026
A grass fire near the site of an encampment in Barrie on Saturday morning forced a lane closure on Highway 400 as crews worked to extinguish the blaze.
It occurred just before 10:45 a.m. off the southbound side of the freeway near Anne Street North, between the Bayfield and Dunlop interchanges. The incident caused significant traffic delays as crews arrived and closed the right lane of Highway 400 in the area.
A representative for Barrie Fire and Emergency Service told Barrie360 that five crews were dispatched to extinguish the 100 square-foot (9.29 square metre) grass fire that was adjacent to an encampment.
No tents or people were on the site during the blaze, but there were two structures for which any damages have not been determined.
The highway closure last just over an hour from the time crews were dispatched.
Barrie Fire’s investigations team is still reviewing the incident.
3)OPP investigating two deaths in the region
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Dan Blakeley, June 3, 2026
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is investigating what it calls a suspicious death in Scouts Valley Trail off Old Barrie Road in Orillia.
The discovery was made just after 7 o’clock last night.
The Orillia OPP Crime Unit is investigating under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.
Police are urging residents in the area to be vigilant and to report any recent or ongoing suspicious activity
And human remains have been found in Thornton.
OPP were called late Tuesday morning to a residence on the 10th Line.
Preliminary investigation suggests it is an isolated incident. Police say there is no indication of a broader threat.
The Nottawasaga OPP Crime Unit is conducting this investigation under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and Ontario Forensic Pathology Service. Assistance is being provided by the OPP’s Emergency Response Team, Canine Unit and Forensic Identification Services.
4)(Updated) Woman taken to hospital after vehicle plunges into construction pit in Barrie
Courtesy Barrie360.com
By Ian MacLennan, June 4, 2026
Vehicle at the bottom of a construction excavation after plunging about 11 metres through a fence at a construction site on Coulter Street in Barrie.
A vehicle is seen at the bottom of a construction hole after it plunged about 11 metres on Wednesday evening at a property at 53 Coulter Street in Barrie.
Updated:
Barrie police say a 27-year-old woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries after the vehicle she was in plunged into a pit at a construction site.
The property is located at 53 Coulter Street, behind the Bayfield Mall.
In an update on Thursday morning, police told Barrie 360 that the construction site appeared to be properly marked, including a surrounding metal fence.
They don’t believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in the collision.
The investigation is ongoing.
A tow truck removes a vehicle that plunged into a pit at a construction site on Coulter Street in Barrie on June 3, 2026.
Original story:
Barrie firefighters extricated a woman from a vehicle that crashed through a fence and plunged about 11 metres into a construction hole on Wednesday evening.
A fire official told Barrie 360 that crews responded around 7:19 p.m. to the property at 53 Coulter Street, located behind the Bayfield Mall.
The woman was transported to hospital. Her condition is unknown.
The hole is surrounded by fencing but there is a gap where the vehicle plowed through, which was eventually roped off with yellow tape.
The fire official confirmed police are handling the investigation into the incident.
A large tow truck was brought in to remove the vehicle.
A 12-storey, 188 apartment building is being constructed at that location.