Ontario trucker charged for driving unsafe vehicle after crash: OPP

Ontario Provincial Police impounded a severely damaged tractor-trailer and charged its commercial driver after officers say he continued driving the wrecked rig for hours following a crash on Highway 17 on Jan. 22, 2026. (Ontario Provincial Police/Facebook)

Ontario Provincial Police say a commercial truck driver has been charged after he continued driving a seriously damaged tractor-trailer for hours following an early-morning crash last week.

OPP said the incident began around 6 a.m. on Jan. 22, on Highway 17 near Borups Corners, about 50 kilometres east of Dryden.

Officers responded to a crash on Highway 17 involving a commercial motor vehicle.

“Due to heavy damage, the truck was escorted off the highway for safety,” police said in a social media post.

“After officers cleared the scene, the driver chose to keep driving – despite the vehicle being unsafe.”

Trucker encountered again following public complaint

OPP said they received a second call about the same vehicle later that day from a concerned motorist about a commercial vehicle being driven dangerously that call came in at about 12:30 p.m.

Officers again located the truck and found it was now travelling with multiple flat tires, damaged rims, an inoperable door and other serious defects.

Charges laid, vehicle impounded

“The driver, a 45-year-old male of Cambridge, Ont., was charged with operating an unsafe commercial motor vehicle,” said OPP Const. Chris Chevrier in an email to CTV News on Tuesday.

“Public safety comes first,” added police.

The truck and trailer were towed from the roadway and impounded. The driver was given a future court date to answer the charge.

Police told CTV News that the trailer belonged to a trucking company registered out of southern Ontario.

In its post, OPP emphasized the role of public reporting in such cases.

“If you see unsafe driving, report it – it helps keep our highways safe,” said Chevrier.

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