Ottawa

Good Samaritan uses vehicle to slow out-of-control van

The Ontario Provincial Police are thanking a Good Samaritan who used her own vehicle to stop an out-of-control van on Highway 417 earlier this week.

Van driver was in 'medical distress,' say police

The door of a black and white OPP police cruiser is pictured.
Police are thanking a driver who used her own vehicle to come to the rescue of an out-of-control driver on Highway 417 earlier this week. (CBC/Martin Trainor)

The Ontario Provincial Police are publicly thanking a Good Samaritan who used her own vehicle earlier this week to stop an out-of-control delivery van.

The van was heading east on Highway 417 near Woodroffe Avenue on the afternoon of May 25, said police, when it struck the centre median.

As the van slowed and repeatedly bounced off the median, another driver positioned her vehicle in front of the van, gradually bringing it to a stop. An off-duty paramedic also stopped to help.

The van's driver was in "medical distress" and was "very lucky" that someone came along when they did, said OPP Const. John Armit.

"He could have gone to the right and [been] struck by another vehicle...or gone over the centre median," said Armit. "Without the assistance of the Good Samaritan, it could have been substantially different."

No one was hurt, and the van's driver is now "doing well," said Armit.