**Tragic Collision Involving Truck and Tractor in Ottawa Area**

Dairy farmer equipped with dashcams due to frequent dangerous driving incidents

Nelson Zandbergen
Farmers Forum

**UPDATE JULY 2**

On June 23, around 4:49 a. m., police were called to the scene of an accident on Mitch Owens Road involving a farm tractor and a transport truck,” said Ottawa Police Services constable Fern John-Simon. “The driver of the farm tractor was taken to the hospital with injuries that aren’t life-threatening. A man in his 30s has been charged with Careless Driving under the Highway Traffic Act.”

EDWARDS – Craig Waddell, 31, is dealing with a sore back and a painful cut on his head after a transport truck collided with his John Deere farm tractor early in the morning on Mitch Owens Road, just south of urban Ottawa. Both vehicles suffered extensive damage in the June 23 incident, but it could have ended much worse for this sixth-generation dairy farmer.

The truck was operated by a driver from Brampton, Ontario who works for Mohanpur Transport owned by Karam Singh.

“The fact that I walked away from it is something we’re really thankful for,” Waddell, a married father of three young boys, shared with Farmers Forum nearly a week later. He and his family see this incident as part of an alarming trend where they feel increasingly at risk sharing their long-time road with drivers who show little patience for farm machinery.

“We got off very fortunate…this time. The other 99% of the time, this would have been an obituary post,” his sister, Claudia Pekary mentioned in a social media update. “We could have lost a husband, a father, a son, a brother and a farmer. It’s crucial now for us to raise awareness about road safety concerning agriculture, especially around rural Ottawa.”

Waddell was heading east on what’s usually just a short kilometer journey to Ivandale Farm dairy barn for morning chores around 4:30 a. m., towing along a Gehl disc bine behind his John Deere 3055 after finishing some mowing work the night before.

The entire setup was lit up with LED flashing lights and had slow-moving vehicle signs displayed clearly according to him; security footage from when he left home supports this.

The sun was just beginning to rise outside under clear conditions without fog or bright sunlight blocking anyone’s view. As he drove eastward, Waddell noticed the transport truck approaching quite some distance behind him in his rearview mirror.

“I kept my eye on him…he was getting closer. I realized he wasn’t signaling to go around me … he wasn’t moving over and he wasn’t slowing down,” Waddell recounted. He braced himself accordingly. “So I just planted myself firmly in my seat, leaned forward slightly and gripped the steering wheel tightly.”

The transport truck hit the equipment from behind at full speed without any indication that it tried to brake, Waddell stated. The impact was so loud that neighbors woke up startled by the sound which even triggered security cameras situated over one kilometer away to capture it. The tractor ended up lodged in the ditch while its right drive tire continued spinning.

Once his back stopped “spasming,” Waddell managed to kick off lever shifting the tractor out of gear before turning around and climbing out through the shattered rear window. He then used his phone to contact his father who quickly arrived at the scene to switch off ignition while leaving keys so that safety lights remained operational.

The police arrived shortly after and sealed up Waddell’s head wound with adhesive strips before transporting him to hospital where he spent several hours recovering. Although there are no broken bones reported , “I do have quite an aching back,” he commented while they are also concerned if there may be concussion symptoms present.

He believes that having that 15-foot disc bine may have saved him during this crash since it absorbed most of force upon impact causing its tongue snap forward while tearing off left tire along axle cleanly from John Deere tractor itself. While tractor went into left-side ditch , disc bine flew across roadway ending completely inside opposite ditch. Red paint scuffs were later discovered smeared against windshield on mangled transport truck.

The transport truck belongs Mohanpur Transport based Brampton. Owner Karam Singh expressed regret speaking heavily accented English stating how unfortunate such timing occurred adding , “This is very bad situation. I feel deeply saddened too about what happened.”

Singh mentioned firing driver following incident yet also indicated named ‘Mahinder’ claimed not having spotted farm machine until nearing close because visibility issues due fog. This statement conflicts clear skies confirmed via video obtained family witnesses nearby. Truck operator had seven years experience working four prior years company without any previous incidents noted according Singh.

For both Waddell family team Ivandale Farm this collision represents nightmare long feared reality they’ve faced regularly encountering hazardous conditions frequently Mitch Owens Road where drivers often cut-off tractors showing active turn signals or overtaking dangerously leading them directly facing incoming traffic.

Due unsafe circumstances caused frequent near misses previously prompted installation dashcams every single one tractors including destroyed John Deere although unfortunately recording device failed capture anything during event.

“Those familiar me know I’ve always predicted day like would eventually happen , wishing sincerely wrong hoping never wished upon another person ,” he stated sadly.