A Brampton man is facing charges after toppling a highway sign on the 401 in Whitby.
On Friday morning around 7:30 a.m., police say a transport truck struck a sign that hangs over the westbound lanes near Brock Street.
Witnesses told officers the truck had its box up when it collided with the signage.
They also told investigators that the driver stopped, put the box down and then took off.
Westbound lanes were shut down for hours as crews cleaned up the drooping sign, which buckled and sagged over multiple lanes. Everything has since reopened.
It didn’t take long for police to identify the driver, who they asked to get in touch with them.
By Friday afternoon, police were speaking with the company that owns the truck.
They eventually found the vehicle, which had damage to its box– and some blue paint that matches the sign’s colour.
Sergeant Kerry Schmidt says a 24-year-old Brampton man is facing several charges, including careless driving, fail to remain and over-height vehicle.
He also thanked the public for leading police to the suspect.
24 year old driver from Brampton is now charged with:
*Overheight vehicle
*Fail to remain
*Careless driving.
As a result of crashing into the overhead sign with his his vehicle’s dump box in the raised position.
All lanes have now reopened at #Hwy401/Brock St Whitby. pic.twitter.com/bMKdFWoG7t— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) January 6, 2023
The man wasn’t named and no injuries were reported.
Submitted photo
