A motorist faces charges of careless driving and a littering fine following a crash on Highway 417 on Sunday, March 2, 2025, triggered by flicking a lit cigarette out his vehicle’s passenger-side window. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Ottawa detachment responded to the incident, which occurred just after 9 a.m. between Eagleson Road and Moodie Drive.
According to the OPP, the eastbound driver lost control of his white four-door sedan while attempting to discard the cigarette. The vehicle veered into the highway’s median, collided with the guardrail separating the westbound lanes, and came to a stop. Ottawa Paramedic Service transported the driver to a local hospital with minor injuries; no other vehicles were involved.
The OPP has charged the driver with careless driving, which carries a $490 fine and six demerit points if convicted, alongside a $110 penalty for littering. “This incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of distracted driving and the consequences of seemingly small actions behind the wheel,” an OPP spokesperson noted.
Health Canada reports that tobacco use claims approximately 48,000 lives annually in Canada, surpassing the combined toll of alcohol, opioids, homicides, and traffic accidents, underscoring the broader risks tied to smoking-related behaviors.
The investigation remains ongoing, and the OPP urges drivers to stay focused and dispose of waste responsibly to prevent similar incidents.