GTA roadways no stranger to bizarre incidents in 2021
Posted October 27, 2021 6:04 pm.
Last Updated October 28, 2021 11:54 am.
What could a plane, a flute, a fight, a river of red wine and a lost Llama all possibly have in common?
They all found their way onto GTA roadways in 2021.
Here’s a look back at the strange circumstances that made headlines and inspired plenty of head scratches.
Plane lands on Hwy. 407
The latest incident took place on Wednesday morning when a small plane was forced to make an emergency landing on Highway 407 in Markham. Luckily, no one was injured.
The pilot said there was “no other option” but to land on the highway after the engine starting sputtering and dying shortly after takeoff from Buttonville airport.
The OPP credited the pilot with making a “text book” landing.
When asked if he had any reservations about landing on the 407, the pilot told the OPP: “We had no option. It was either this, or the buildings.”
Bahaa Attia/CityNews
He blew it: Flute playing motorist busted
Drinking and driving is still, sadly, far too common, and some just can’t unglue their phones from their hands, even when barreling down the highway. But it’s not everyday someone pulls out their iPad, throws on some backing tracks and starts rocking the flute with both hands while driving.
That’s what police in Burlington allege a driver was caught doing last week.
“Traffic officer was conducting distracted driver enforcement today and was expecting a cell phone from this driver,” police tweeted. “A little surprised to find the driver playing his flute with both hands and following along to an iPod while driving.”
Traffic officer was conducting distracted driver enforcement today and was expecting a cell phone from this driver. A little surprised to find the driver playing his flute with both hands and following along to an IPod while driving!Charged!!#FlutesAndDrivingDontMix ^mb pic.twitter.com/qQJntk6T1K
— HRPS Burlington (@HRPSBurl) October 20, 2021
The long and wine-ding road
I’m no Alanis Morissette, but there could be some irony at play here. Last winter, police said a suspected impaired driver in an SUV caused a collision on Highway 401 near Highway 6 South that resulted in a transport truck filled with red wine rolling over and spilling its fermented contents onto the cold February concrete.
The driver of the SUV refused to provide a breath sample and was charged with impaired driving. Luckily, no serious injuries were reported.
A transport truck carrying red wine rolls over on Highway 401. OPP
The rush hour punch shower
Can anything rival rush hour for bringing out the worst in human behaviour? Profanities are hurled, middle fingers unfurled, and some of us may even harbour fantasies of ill-will towards our fellow commuters. But, thankfully, we’ve been civilized and our brutish instincts remain suppressed. Unless you’re these two guys who had enough and decided to toss haymakers while cars whizzed by them on the 401 eastbound express lane at Leslie.
680 NEWS airborne traffic reporter Jordan Kerr captured the dust-up from the chopper. He said it looked like a dispute between tow-truck drivers. Although police weren’t able to confirm their professions, the video evidence confirmed their pugilistic proficiencies.
“It got more heated then they started grappling and punching coming very close to falling into live traffic lanes,” Kerr explained at the time. “A few drivers stopped to help break up the fight, and one of the drivers stormed off and drove away.”
Happy ending for lost Llama
It’s nice to end things on a happy note.
Instead of becoming exotic road kill, a lost Llama was safely reunited with family after being found wandering the lanes of the southbournd 401 last June.
Crews were forced to block southbound 400 lanes approaching King Road, while they tried to capture the animal — which they did — without a fur out of place.
A llama was captured by OPP after being found wandering in the southbound lanes of Highway 400 near Kind Road. TWITTER/@OPP_HSD
