A quiet Saturday night north of Guelph turned tragic when a 39-year-old tow-truck driver was struck and killed while offering assistance to a stranded motorist. The incident occurred on Wellington Road 26, near the serene waters of Belwood Lake, just after 9 p.m., instantly transforming a routine roadside stop into a scene of devastation.
Emergency responders rushed to the location, finding the driver with critical, life-threatening injuries. He was immediately transported to a hospital, but despite the best efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries on Monday, leaving behind a community in mourning.
The driver of the other vehicle involved sustained minor injuries and was also taken to a hospital for treatment. Investigators are now meticulously piecing together the events of that night, appealing to the public for any witnesses or dashcam footage that might shed light on the collision.
This heartbreaking event marks the second fatality for tow-truck operators in Ontario this month, a chilling reminder of the inherent dangers faced by those who dedicate themselves to helping others on the roadside. The profession, often unseen, is fraught with risk.
Just weeks earlier, on December 3rd, a 42-year-old man from Kitchener was killed on Highway 401 near Woodstock while assisting another driver. A commercial tractor-trailer struck him, and the driver of the truck allegedly left the scene, now facing charges of dangerous operation causing death and failing to stop after an accident.
The recent loss has deeply impacted the towing community. Kaveh Bigdeli, the operator from Richmond Hill, was identified by the Professional Towing Association of Ontario as the victim. His story is particularly poignant, as he was originally from out of the country, and his body has been returned home, compounding the grief.
In a powerful display of solidarity, approximately 200 tow-truck drivers from across Ontario gathered on December 13th. They formed a procession, traveling from Kitchener to the site of Bigdeli’s accident, a moving tribute to a fallen colleague and a stark demonstration of the bonds within the profession.
These tragedies underscore the vulnerability of those who work on the side of the road, exposed to the speed and unpredictability of highway traffic. They serve as a somber call for increased awareness and caution from all drivers.
