UPDATE: Tow truck driver killed on 417 in Arnprior identified as 33-year-old Ottawa man
Posted Jan 18, 2022 06:54:00 PM.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is identifying a man killed on the side of Highway 417 in Arnprior.
Officers responded to a fatal collision on the westbound side of the highway underneath the White Lake Road overpass around 12:25 p.m., Monday, January 17, 2022.
Their investigation revealed that a snow plow hit a tow truck operator while he was out of his vehicle, assisting another motorist who was stuck in a ditch.
The tow truck driver has been identified as Phillip Smith, 33, of Ottawa.
It was the second fatal crash reported by the OPP during Monday's snow storm.
A post mortem examination has been ordered by the Office of the Chief Coroner.
As a result of the collision, Highway 417 westbound was closed between County Road 29 and Campbell Drive for several hours. The investigation continues with the assistance of an OPP Collision Reconstructionist and Technical Collision Investigators.
The Ministry of Labour was contacted and is also investigating the incident.
East Region OPP officers responded to 247 motor vehicle collisions on Monday. Officers say 11 of the crashes had reports of people injured and two were fatal.
