A Montreal man is facing charges after a load of dairy calves fell onto Highway 401 in eastern Ontario, triggering a crash between two tractor-trailers.
Ontario Provincial Police reported that the driver of a small crossover vehicle was towing an “insecure load” of eight calves using a homemade trailer on Friday morning around 7 a.m. The incident occurred in the westbound lanes near Joyceville Road, east of Kingston, when the trailer gave way, scattering the animals onto the highway.
The Ontario Provincial Police noted that the trailer was unsuitable for transporting cattle, causing it to break apart. The calves sustained injuries, and a veterinarian was called to assess their condition. Several westbound vehicles swerved to avoid hitting the loose cattle, but two tractor-trailers collided as a result. Police did not confirm if the drivers of the trucks were injured.
Officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency were called in to assist with the removal of the animals. The highway was partially closed for five hours while authorities worked to clear the scene.
The cattle were being transported from Montreal to St. Catharines at the time of the accident. The calves have since been seized as the investigation continues.
The driver of the vehicle, a 25-year-old man from Montreal, is facing multiple charges, including operating an unsafe vehicle, failure to surrender a license, and drawing a trailer without a plate. He is scheduled to appear in Kingston court on December 9.