The Harbour Grace Volunteer Fire Brigade got an early start this morning when the department responded to an accident on the Veterans Memorial Highway around 8 a.m.
Rain is considered to be a factor.
The accident occurred near the Harbour Grace turnoff heading South towards Bay Roberts, when a Ford Focus lost control and hydroplaned into the ditch.
Officials believe the car had just passed a tractor-trailer vehicle when it struck water in the ruts and careened off the road.
There were no other vehicles involved in the accident.
“A male and female were taken to Carbonear General Hospital with minor injuries,” said Harbour Grace fire chief Ray Verge.
The male was from Carbonear and the female was from Shearstown.
Based on the state of the vehicle, which had damage done to its front and back windshields, Verge said the two were “lucky” to have escaped without more serious injuries.
“By looking at the vehicle, it flipped over because the roof was concaved in,” he said.
The driver of the tractor-trailer called in the accident and told first responders that when the Focus passed his vehicle it “was going flat out.”
Officials have long preached the importance of driving to the conditions of the road and keeping speed down during adverse weather conditions.
This morning provided another example of doing just that.
Verge said it is important for drivers to adjust their speed during rain and low light.
“When your speed is increased and something goes wrong, your reaction time is not going to be the same as if you were doing the posted speed-limit,” he said.
