Police say a tractor-trailer stopped for speeding on Highway 17 this week was missing several wheel fasteners and was in “imminent” danger of losing a wheel. As a result, a driver from Sudbury and an Earlton-based trucking company have been charged. The incident took place Feb. 3 at 3:45 p.m. when North Bay Ontario Provincial Police timed the transport travelling 113 km/h just east of Mattawa on Highway 17. “During the stop, the officer noticed loose and missing wheel fasteners on the vehicle’s fourth axle, classified as a major defect and an imminent wheel‑off hazard,” police said in a news release Friday. A further inspection by an enforcement officer from the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario uncovered more issues. “Several significant mechanical and safety concerns were identified,” police said. 7 of 10 wheel fasteners missing “The most critical issue involved the axle, where seven of the ten wheel fasteners were missing and the remaining three were loose, creating an immediate risk of wheel separation. The vehicle was placed out of service, and its licence plates were removed.” The driver, a 55-year-old man from Sudbury, was charged with speeding, driving a CMV not equipped with a working speed‑limiting system, failing to accurately complete a daily inspection and driving a CMV with a major defect. The Earlton-based trucking company is charged with failing to ensure performance standards are met, failing to ensure daily inspection is conducted properly and permitting the operation of a CMV with a major defect. “The OPP remains committed to identifying and removing unsafe commercial vehicles from Ontario’s highways,” police said. “Through strong partnerships with the Ministry of Transportation, officers work together to address unsafe equipment and enforce the standards that keep Ontario roads safe for everyone.”
