There are close calls, really close calls – and then there’s this.
Amateur video posted on YouTube Jan. 26 shows an extraordinary near-miss between two semi-trucks travelling in opposite directions along Ontario’s snowy Highway 11.
Art Ginter, the driver who posted the video, described the terrifying event in an interview with Global News.
“Honestly, at first I didn’t really believe what I was seeing. I applied my brakes to try and slow down. If you seen the video you can hear the terror in my voice. I didn’t how I was going to get out of it,” he said.
In the video Ginter can be heard screaming, “What the hell are you doing!?” as another truck barrels towards him after crossing the centre line in an attempt to pass a snowplow.
“NO!” Ginter screams again, slamming on the brakes and veering into the guard rail in an attempt to avoid a collision.
“The speed limit in that area is 90 kilometres and I was doing about 80, and I was slowing down to give the gentleman enough time to get behind the snowplow,” he said. “He crossed a double yellow going uphill, into a dangerous curve.”
Ginter has more than 20 years of experience as a professional truck driver: He first got behind a big rig in 1990. And he has some words of caution for other drivers during the winter time.
“The biggest thing is patience. Especially in the winter, with two-lane highways and snowplows, the guys are out there doing their jobs. I see a lot people with not a lot of patience and they just want to go.”
OPP Staff Sgt. Ken Mantey confirmed to Global News provincial police are investigating the incident which occurred Jan. 4.
“The OPP have received a copy of the video and we are attempting to identify the Commercial Motor Vehicle and driver involved,” said Mantey in an email. ” We are asking if anybody has information regarding this incident to contact the Nipigon detachment or Crimestoppers.”
Ginter was carrying a load of eggs from Winnipeg to Montreal when the near-collision occurred.
Ginter posted the video to YouTube hoping to identify the other driver who failed to stop. His truck, which he says “only has 95,000 kilometres on it,” sustained serious damage after hitting the guardrail.
“We didn’t want to put this on YouTube to throw anybody under the bus, but my insurance is leaving me with the deductable,” he said.
All told, including the towing charge back to Winnipeg, Ginter says he is out almost $30,000.
But after the harrowing experience Ginter says he’s just happy he was unharmed.
“I’m glad that I walked away from it. I have a wife and three kids at home. And I was just happy to be able to get home.”
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