Police still searching for green minivan in Hwy 17 fatal car crash

Provincial police say the tiniest detail could help solve a motor vehicle crash on Highway 17 that killed three people in 2005.

Inspector Mark Andrews is asking for any clue that could bring closure to the families of those who died includingWendy Savord, who says she is still overwhelmed by the pain of losing her 15-year-old daughter Melanie more than 10 years ago.

"It's very raw and I think the 10th anniversary has just surfaced it a lot more."

The crash happened on Highway 17 near the lookout, west of North Bay, on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2005.

Melanie Savord was travelling with a couple from Sudbury to babysit for them.

Their westbound silver car had to swerve to avoid an oncoming green minivan.The driver of the car lost control and was hit by an oncoming vehicle.

All three people died.

The mini-van that caused the crash left the scene.

Where would they be now?

OPP inspector Mark Andrews said more than 100 officers have touched the case in search of the driver of that green minivan.

"Usually it's the minorest of little details that we're missing to point us in the right direction," he said.

If the driver came forward, he or she would feel a weight lifted from their shoulders as well, Andrews added.

That one person cut short three lives.

"What could they have been? Where would they be now? What kind of contributions would they be giving our community? And that's the tragedy of these senseless crashes all the potential is gone and we'll never know," he said.