Driver recounts ‘very frightening’ near-miss with wrong-way motorist on Kitchener highway

A driver caught a scary moment on camera as they were driving along the Conestoga Parkway. CTV’s Alexandra Holyk reports.

Chace Doolittle takes Highway 7/8 to work every day but, on Monday, he witnessed something unusual on his morning commute.

“All of a sudden, I see brighter lights coming on my side of the road, and I wasn’t too sure exactly what it was,” he told CTV News.

Doolittle was driving towards Waterloo, around 2:45 a.m., when he saw another vehicle coming his way – driving east in the westbound lanes.

“I take this road daily, every day,” he explained. “And it was just like, well, today’s my day. It’s coming, but luckily, it didn’t happen.”

It’s not clear why the car was going the wrong way, or how far the motorist drove on the highway.

“[You] never expect it to happen to you,” Doolittle said. “It is very frightening; it’s kind of scary. But hopefully, no one got injured or killed.”

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) both said they did not receive any calls about the incident and there were no injuries or collisions reported.

“This is obviously an incredibly dangerous situation,” WRPS Staff Sgt. Scott Griffiths said.

“Travelling at highway speeds is like 100 kilometres an hour,” noted OPP Const. Taylor Konkle. “[Wrong-way drivers] can come up on you pretty quickly and people’s reaction time won’t be quick.”

Both Griffiths and Konkle said the first thing drivers should do if they see someone heading towards them is to slow down and get out of their way.

“Do not make a U-turn on the highway and chase them and flash your lights at them to get their attention,” Konkle warned. “You are going to put yourself and other people at harm.”

He also had advice for drivers who find themselves stuck in the opposite lane of traffic.

“First thing to do is pull over to the shoulder, or the left or the right, whatever the closest is, and stop your vehicle,” said Konkle.

Driving the wrong way can come with serious consequences and put everyone on the road at risk.

“It becomes an issue as soon as it’s happening,” Griffiths said. “There is everything from Highway Traffic Act offences, which is a ticket, all the way up to criminal charges.”

For Doolittle, the close call won’t throw a wrench into his regular routine. He said he’ll keep an extra close eye on the road and wants other drivers to stay alert too.

“Just take your time,” he urged. “Just look ahead, don’t overreact and start steering everywhere… And then if you can get out of the way, get out of the way.”

Police said anyone who sees someone driving on the wrong side of the road, or who may be going the wrong way themselves, to call 911 and avoid turning around in live lanes of traffic.