Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed that he is safe after being side-swiped while driving westbound along Highway 401 near Pickering on Wednesday afternoon.
Ford and the others in his vehicle were unharmed. However, the driver and passenger of the vehicle that struck them suffered minor injuries.
“We were just driving straight and the next thing you know we got hammered, just hammered,” Ford told reporters.
BREAKING:
— REAL JEW (@THEREALJEW613) January 9, 2025
Premier of Ontario Doug Ford was involved in an accident on Highway 401 in Ontario earlier today.
The Premier is ok. pic.twitter.com/ywFStgeaqI
The premier and several staff members were being driven by two OPP Protective Services officers westbound along the 401, approaching Brock Road in Pickering when the collision occurred.
Ford was leaving a news conference at Ontario Power Generation.
An 18-year-old Oshawa man was behind the wheel of the other vehicle. He and his passenger were both taken to hospital with minor injuries and have since been treated and released.
According to the OPP, the driver is being charged with dangerous driving and is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 25.
Driver charged with dangerous driving in collision involving Ontario Premier Doug Ford. ^ks pic.twitter.com/zbyrROyxmU
— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) January 9, 2025
Ford said that the driver who hit them was “out of commission.”
“He hit us and then wound up on the other side of the highway. It was bad,” he added, saying he prays that the man is okay.
Ford jokingly referred to his own condition following that accident by saying, “I’m okay, this head is like limestone. It’s hard as a rock.”
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).
