Family, friends of snowmobiler struck by fire truck hold protest
About 20 people gathered in front of the Amherst RCMP detachment on Sunday to demand police accountability following the tragic death of snowmobiler Blake Nicholson in Collingwood Corner, N.S. Friends and family of Nicholson were among the protesters, all seeking answers and transparency in the wake of the incident.
Adam Nicholson, Blake’s brother, expressed the family’s frustration, stating, “We just need answers, that’s it. And no one is telling anybody anything, they’re hiding everything and not telling us.” The family has not received any of Blake’s belongings, including the snowmobile, and have not been contacted by officials regarding the incident.
The events leading up to Nicholson’s death began on February 21 when he crashed his snowmobile on Wyvern Road near Poison Lake around 10:20 p.m. Emergency services, including the Collingwood District volunteer fire department, responded to the call for help. Tragically, while Nicholson was being tended to, he was struck by a fire truck and pronounced dead shortly after.
It was revealed that Jerrold Cotton, the fire chief of the Collingwood fire department, was driving the truck at the time of the incident. Cotton had previously pleaded guilty to impaired driving in 2020, raising concerns about his involvement in the tragic accident. However, RCMP stated that alcohol or drugs are not believed to have played a role in Nicholson’s death.
In response to the incident, Cumberland’s municipal council took action to discharge Cotton and Deputy Chief Andrea Bishop from the fire station and ban them for life. Despite efforts to reach out to Cotton for comment, calls went unanswered.
Among the protesters was Tyler Thomas, a friend of Nicholson, who emphasized the significance of seeking justice and transparency in the aftermath of the tragedy. Maddi Mitchell, Nicholson’s fiancée and mother of his two-year-old son, echoed the sentiments of seeking accountability from the RCMP for the loss of her loved one.
The RCMP declined to provide a comment while the investigation is ongoing, leaving the community and the family of Blake Nicholson seeking closure and justice for the untimely loss. The protest highlighted the importance of holding authorities accountable and ensuring transparency in such tragic circumstances.
