A 45-year old tow truck driver was fighting for his life Wednesday night, critically injured after being struck by a passing vehicle while on the side of the highway.
The tow truck operator had responded to an earlier two vehicle collision and was out of his truck and on the side of the highway when he was hit. Paramedics responded just before 5pm and say the driver suffered life-threatening injuries including head and abdominal trauma.
A 30-year old man sitting in a parked vehicle was also hurt. He was not wearing a seatbelt inside the car which was not in driveable condition following the original collision.
A 19-year old female driving the vehicle which struck both the tow truck driver, and the parked car, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, as did her 19-year old female passenger.
The collision happened just days before legislation to protect tow truck drivers takes effect. The drivers are included in a bill that expands a current "move over" law designed to protect emergency personnel and disabled vehicles on the side of the road.
The eastbound lanes of Highway 417 were closed at Palladium for almost five hours, reopening about 9:30.
OPP collision investigators have not yet determined whether charges will be laid.
