Man drives wrong way on ramp, attempts to slash vehicle’s tire in road rage incident on Ottawa highway: OPP

OPP say road rage is becoming an increasing problem as drivers blame construction and slow traffic for losing their cool. CTV’s Dylan Dyson reports.

A 61-year-old Quebec man is facing charges after a driver drove the wrong way on a highway ramp and attempted to slash a vehicle’s tire during an alleged road rage incident on Highway 417 on Victoria Day, according to police.

Ontario Provincial Police responded to an incident on Highway 417 near Hunt Club Road just before 4 p.m. on Monday.

The incident occurred after a driver passed the accused in the right lane of the highway, police said.

“The accused began following the victim and, at one point during the confrontation, was driving the wrong way down the ramp at Hunt Club,” Const. Michael Fathi said in a media release.

“The accused attempted to slash the victim’s tire with a screwdriver and tried to break the victim’s car window.”

The driver is facing charges of dangerous operation, assault with a weapon, mischief, driving the wrong way – one way traffic, and having an obstructed plate.

The driver is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa at a later date.

“OPP remind drivers that with construction season just starting in the city, motorists can expect delays similar to the summer of 2025,” Fathi said.

“Road rage will not be tolerated, and criminal charges will be laid where applicable.”

Road rage on the rise

This was the second alleged road rage incident reported on Highway 417 this weekend.

On Saturday, the OPP asked for witnesses to come forward after an incident on the westbound lanes of Hwy. 417 in Ottawa’s east end.

Fathi said, at approximately 2 p.m., there was an incident between a dark grey vehicle and a black vehicle in the area between Boundary Road and Anderson Road.

Fathi told CTV News Ottawa there appears to be an increasing trend of road rage incidents.

“It certainly has happened consistently last year, and it seems to be happening already on an upward trend at this point this year,” he said.

Road rage can take many forms, from giving another driver the finger to more dangerous behaviour.

“There’s a lot of yelling going back and forth sometimes between drivers. We’ve had incidents where bottles or cans have been thrown at other vehicles, causing damage. We have seen people on purpose strike other vehicles just out of rage,” Fathi said.

“Cooler heads need to prevail. We can’t have people losing their cool on the highway.”

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Dylan Dyson

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