Video shows head-on collision avoided on Highway 17 in northern Ont.

A commercial driver is facing a list of charges after video surfaces of a scary near miss involving an off-duty officer and a truck full of cattle in northern Ontario last month, police say.

Ontario Provincial Police released a video on social media on May 25, 2024 showing a commercial motor vehicle driver nearly colliding with another tractor-trailer on Highway 17 near Thessalon, Ont. (Supplied/Ontario Provincial Police)

The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. April 29 west of Bruce Mines, less than 70 kilometres east of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release Monday.

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The video obtained by the cattle truck driver shows an oncoming white tractor-trailer travelling west on Highway 17 crossed the centre line, entering the eastbound lane close to the oncoming traffic.

"The cattle truck driver manoeuvred to the shoulder and was able to evade the eastbound tractor-trailer," OPP said.

"The driver was successful in maintaining control as the cattle load had shifted."

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An off-duty officer from the East Algoma detachment was driving their personal vehicle to work the night shift in the Town of Thessalon behind the cattle truck when it suddenly swerved, police said.

As the white tractor-trailer approached, debris skidded across the road and the officer was able to use the shoulder to narrowly avoid the head-on crash and rolling into the south ditch.

The commercial driver returned to their lane and continued travelling west without stopping.

With the dash cam video from the trucking company transporting the cattle and help from the Caledon detachment, a 32-year-old man from Brampton was arrested and charged in the incident.

He is charged with dangerous operation, careless driving, speeding, unsafe move – lane or shoulder, failing to share half the roadway – meeting vehicle, two counts each of failing to take 10 hours off in a day and entering inaccurate information in record, driving after 14 hours on duty in a day and failing to accurately complete a daily inspection report and maintain a daily log.

The accused is scheduled to appear in court in Elliot Lake July 11.

"Drive safe, stay awake, drive sober and no distracted driving," said police.

With files from CTVNorthernOntario.ca journalist Dan Bertrand