Video – MPP Says Protecting Emergency Service Workers on the Highway is a Multi-Faceted Problem
(Some photos provided courtesy of RWC Towing and Recovery)
When MPP David Piccini heard that two firefighters were injured when their firetruck was struck from behind by a transport on Highway 401 in Newtonville he immediately reached out to members of the Clarington Fire Department.
The Clarington firefighters were injured after the firetruck they were in was slammed from behind by a transport truck on Highway 401 early Friday morning.
On October 10, 2025 shortly after 2 a.m., emergency services were on Highway 401 westbound around Newtonville, in Durham Region for a collision.
“Fire department were on scene blocking a live lane protecting the area up ahead for emergency responders dealing with the earlier collision,” said OPP Highway Safety Division Sgt. Kerry Schmidt.
At approximately 2:30 a.m. a transport truck slammed into the firetruck with the two firefighters inside.
The emergency lights on the firetruck were activated at the time of the collision.
The two firefighters were rushed to hospital with one being released shortly after and the other appearing to suffer non-life threatening injuries.
Northumberland – Peterborough South MPP David Piccini said, “protecting folks on the highway – this is a multi-faceted problem.”
“This involves cracking down on trucking.”
Piccini adds that Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria (Minister of Transportation) had done that and continues to improve trucking in Ontario.
Along with improving trucking in Ontario, Piccini has introduced, “slow down, move over” legislation that improves safety for emergency services along with construction workers along the highway.
It’s paramount to protect emergency service workers while they do their jobs on the highway.
“They run into danger. The last thing they need is errant vehicles coming at them while they are trying to perform life saving work.”
Piccini is committed to sitting down with emergency service workers next week and bring any ideas they come up with to Queen’s Park.
Public service announcements and widening of the highway are things that should help, “but most importantly for the public to understand it’s their responsibility as a road user to keep others safe.”
“There’s always room for better training. We’ve supported the Ontario Trucking Association with better training for drivers. I have yet to hear from one person that would disagree with me, that we can’t do a better job in terms of training truck drivers.”
Piccini added that transport drivers are on the road for long road long hours and play a vital role, “and they deserve to be protected, but they need to drive safe and our first responders deserve to be protected too.”
Schmidt said the collision, “is another stark reminder of slow down, move over and sharing the road safely and responsibly. When you see fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances with their red and blue lights flashing, legislation requires motorists approaching to slow down as they approach, move into a adjacent lane if there is one available and proceed with caution as they go by.”
OPP did not release any information concerning if the driver of the transport had been charged.
Randy Cowan, Deputy Fire Chief of Clarington Emergency and Fire Services said this is approximately the forth collision that has happened as a result of being struck on the highway.
During the past year in Northumberland County approximately three fire apparatus have been struck on Highway 401.
A Cobourg firefighter was injured in February 2025 when a transport slammed into the firetruck that was also acting as a blocker at the scene of a collision.
The firefighter was rushed to hospital, but was released.
A Scarborough man was charged with: fail to slow down and proceed with caution for emergency vehicle or tow truck, careless driving, fail to remain, fail to report, operate unsafe commercial motor vehicle, and fail to have insurance card.
The driver has made several court appearances with the next one being in December.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love