An 18-year-old Oshawa man has been charged with dangerous driving after a collision involving an Ontario Provincial Police vehicle that was transporting Premier Doug Ford on Wednesday, the OPP says.
The premier, his staff and the OPP officers with him were unhurt, according to Grace Lee, spokesperson for Ford’s office.
The driver of the other vehicle and a passenger suffered minor injuries, the OPP said in a news release on Wednesday.Â
Earlier on Wednesday, Ford told reporters the car he was in was sideswiped on the highway after he left a news conference at Ontario Power Generation.
“We were just driving straight and the next thing you know we got hammered, just hammered,” he said.
“I’m OK, this head is like limestone. It’s hard as a rock,” he joked.
The two-vehicle collision, which involved a vehicle operated by the OPP Protective Services Section, happened in the westbound lanes of Highway 401, approaching Brock Road, in Pickering, according to the provincial police.
Officers from the OPP’s highway safety division were called to the scene at about 12:30 p.m.
Ford said the car in which he was travelling was in its lane and going the speed limit. He also said the driver of the other car ended up on the other side of the highway.
“He was out of commission,” Ford said. “It was bad. I just pray he’s OK.”
Crombie ‘relieved’ that Ford not injured in crash
Ontario Liberal Party Leader Bonnie Crombie said in a statement on Wednesday that she was glad the premier was not injured.
“After hearing of the accident involving the Premier, staff, OPP officers and civilians I am relieved to hear that no one sustained serious injuries and that everyone has been released from the hospital,” Crombie said.
“I want to acknowledge and thank the world class first responders we have in Ontario who were on scene to help,” she added.Â
“I know this must have been a scary situation for all those involved and what matters now is that everyone will be returning home safe to their families tonight.”
In a statement on Thursday, the Ontario NDP said it was also glad that the premier was not hurt.
“Marit Stiles and everyone in the Ontario NDP team are relieved that the Premier is unharmed. We hope for a swift recovery for anyone who was injured,” the statement said.
The accused is due to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Oshawa on Feb. 20.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or who has dashboard camera footage is being asked to call the OPP’s highway safety division at 1-888-310-1122, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
