Ontario Premier Doug Ford survived, saying he was "OK" after an OPP vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a collision on Highway 401 Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred as Ford was returning from an announcement at the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station.
According to Global News, Ford stated that his vehicle was "sideswiped" by another car while driving on the highway. “We were just driving straight, next thing you know, we got hammered — just hammered,” he told reporters.
The crash left a red car against a highway barrier, while Ford's vehicle, part of the Ontario provincial police protective services section convoy, remained on the opposite side of the road.
According to The Canadian Press, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) confirmed the collision occurred in the westbound lanes at approximately 12:30 pm (local time). Two occupants of the other vehicle involved were transported to the hospital with minor injuries, treated, and released.
No injuries were reported among Ford, his staff, or the OPP officers travelling with him.
An 18-year-old Oshawa man has been charged with dangerous driving in connection to the crash, as per The Canadian Press. The accused is scheduled to appear in court in Oshawa on February 20.
During a brief media appearance at Queen’s Park, Ford reflected on the severity of the incident, expressing concern for the other driver. “He hit us and then ended up on the other side of the highway. Yeah, it was bad, but I just pray he's OK,” Ford said. “This head’s like limestone. It’s hard as a rock”, Ford added.
Footage of the incident shows emergency services, including a fire truck and tow trucks, on the scene. Despite the collision, traffic continued to flow along the westbound lanes of Highway 401.
Ford's trip to Darlington centred on discussions about energy supply solutions for Canada and the United States amidst concerns over American tariff threats. Spokesperson Grace Lee confirmed the safety of Ford, his team, and the accompanying OPP officers.