The former head of the fire department in Collingwood Corner, Nova Scotia, who was dismissed following the fatality of a snowmobiler in February, is now facing charges of impaired driving and obstructing a peace officer in New Brunswick. Jerrold Cotton, aged 51, was involved in a vehicle crash on May 4 on Highway 2 near Sackville, New Brunswick, as reported by the RCMP. Open alcohol was allegedly found in Cotton’s vehicle, along with signs of intoxication, leading to the charges of impaired driving, driving with a blood alcohol content above the legal limit, and obstructing a peace officer. Cotton made a court appearance in Moncton provincial court on August 29 in relation to these charges.
This incident occurred shortly after Cotton was involved in a collision with a snowmobiler in Collingwood Corner while operating a municipal fire truck. The snowmobiler, Blake Nicholson, aged 28, tragically passed away after being struck by the fire truck that was responding to his accident. Nicholson had crashed his snowmobile on Wyvern Road in Collingwood Corner on February 21. Witnesses were providing him with CPR when the fire truck hit him, leading to his untimely death. Nicholson was remembered as an avid outdoorsman with a generous spirit, leaving behind his fiancée and young son.
The investigation into Nicholson’s death is ongoing, with the RCMP confirming that the truck and snowmobile involved have been seized. Cotton, who had previously admitted to driving under the influence, faced criticism for not being forthcoming about the collision with municipal officials. Following the incident, Cotton and his deputy were discharged from their positions and banned from the fire hall for life. Cotton is scheduled to return to court in October to enter a plea on the recent impaired driving charges.