A driver has been charged after an Ontario Provincial Police officer was struck by a vehicle in the Ottawa Valley on Wednesday.
Incident Details
The collision occurred around 11:30 a.m. on Highway 60 near Golden Lake, about 100 kilometres west of Ottawa. The officer was conducting a traffic stop when a passing vehicle struck him, according to OPP.
The officer was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.
Charges Laid
The driver, a 42-year-old from Renfrew, Ont., has been charged with careless driving under the Highway Traffic Act. The OPP is continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash.
“This incident highlights the dangers that our officers face every day while performing their duties,” said OPP Const. Michael Mahon in a statement. “We remind motorists to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the road.”
Safety Reminder
Under Ontario’s Move Over law, drivers must slow down and pass with caution when approaching an emergency vehicle with lights flashing, or face fines and demerit points. The OPP says that more than 100 officers are struck by vehicles each year in the province.
