Incident on highway #15

It's a mystery. I don't know how to solve it, but I am curious. Our Eastern Region OPP sent out a tweet indicating an emergency. It was posted at 8:56, and cleared up an hour later.

Rumours are that two cars were passing and smucked into one another. I cannot find any reports. It's quite curious!

Highway #15 is a busy one. I travel it twice a week for my volunteer work. The speed of vehicles is increasing.

NEWS Aug 24 2016

Number of ‘major’ vehicle crashes on Highway 15 doubles over last year

Following Monday’s two-car crash, which sent at least four people to hospital in ambulances, Rideau Lakes Fire Chief Jay DeBernardi, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday, Aug. 23, that “I would probably say that major incidents,” requiring a call-out to his service, “have doubled from last year. We’ve had twice as many calls.”

Drive safely, slow down; don't smell the parsnip!

See the tall plant?

I was out by the mailbox, spraying the Wild parsnip. It is poisonous, and

Wild parsnip - thick, hollow stem,
yellow flowers like Cow parsnip,
(which has white flowers).

it is migrating across the highway, thanks to birds, into my property.

I've found that Poison Ivy killer works on it. Using gloves, you can direct the spray and get rid of this noxious weed. Waist-high, with thick, hollow stems, it makes fetching mail a risky affair

It is insidious. Once the county came along and used the bush hog on the ditches, then dug the ditches out, they have been prolific. Anyone who works in the field needs to be warned.

Well, there I was, with traffic going by at breakneck speed, when I heard a pop. A small car's tire burst, then flew off of the axle. It was quite amazing. I can still see the vivid movie in my head, an airborne tire bouncing off of the road, spinning madly. It rolled for several hundred yards, parallel to the road.
The OPP arrived, two cars, and traffic slowed down. How joyful! I suggested we'd be happy if the OPP sat there every time we had to fetch the mail. "Everyone needs our help." he replied mournfully. I hope it was his end of shift...

The bugs were terrible, I was glad I had on bug spray. The other OPP officer, looking in the bush for the tire, didn't believe me that it was headed that way. Helping to look, I warned one passerby about the Wild parsnip. His wife assured me he knew what to look for as he is a biologist. Her son is an OPP, too. Eventually, they went on their way, but several people stopped to try help. I assured the guy it wouldn't have gone through the wire fence. He was searching in our bush. He finally found it where I said it was, well down the road!

Their parents lived along the road apiece, and they came and took the infant and her car seat to their home, while the couple had a cigarette or two. The OPP waited for the tow truck. I offered to help, but they declined any assistance, more concerned with getting (and paying for) a tow. They unpacked essentials from the car and it was towed away.
I kept on looking for birds, monarchs and bees. (See those photos tomorrow!)

Crazy times in Kemptville

We have had a whirlwind tour of S.E. Ontario. Lots going on, many weird and wonderful people.
The agents we have been working with (we are on #4, in 4 separate areas) are fabulous. But people all seem to be in a hurry the farther out they are from the city.

Lots of people on the roads.

Traffic is crazy. So are people!

After a delightful 2-night visit in a B & B in Kemptville (more on that later!) and a final night with cheese and crackers and wine, we left the B & B to move on to another region: Arnprior.

The car was hit and sent flying in the opposite direction.

As we drove down the road we looked up on highway #43 and spotted debris flying. My camera always at the ready, I captured a real mess. The car was headed northerly, and after the truck hit it, she ended up going south.

A young lady pulled out into traffic too soon, and didn't wait to cross the road, when a dump truck went flying into her.

Debris on the road. 

The truck driver managed to swerve to avoid her,  clipping her car, sending her into a 180 spin, while he drove into our lane. We could well have been hit. It was a bit traumatic. At the time the 3 of us who were witnessed, were worrying about the young lady, while the truck driver's hand was bleeding.





Praise the Lord for airbags! She was in shock, and the firefighters and many OPP arrived, as well as an ambulance. The truck driver went running over to see her. I told the young lady to sit down as she was feeling queasy.

The mother of the driver arrived, and then various firefighters, as well as OPP. We were relieved. Let the pros do their jobs.

Every one kept on driving speedily by!

EMS crews in Ontario are fabulous. What a great team.

Then the pros began to arrive.

Joe (AKA hubby, Brian- long story),  loaned his vest to a man who began directing the fast, heavy traffic.

Spit spot, clean up began.

The traffic is amazing east of Kemptville

Hooray for the OPP.

Muskoka car rolls over

Dated Nov., 2006
Thank goodness for our rescue teams.