'Everybody is OK' after pickup slams into roadside restaurant
'Everybody is OK' after pickup slams into roadside restaurant
It was not a typical morning at Country Sisters Restaurant and Bakery in Moorefield, Ont., east of Listowel.
“My sister looked out front and said to me, ‘There’s a pickup truck in our dining room,’” said Country Sisters co-owner, Carol Wideman.
About 10 minutes before the restaurant was about to open at 7 a.m., a pickup truck travelling eastbound on Highway 86 left the roadway and drove across a planted field before slamming into the side of Country Sisters Restaurant, punching a truck-sized hole in the side of the building.
“Usually we’ve got the girls out here getting things ready for people to sit down and have breakfast or lunch. We’re so glad we hadn’t got that far yet,” said Wideman.
Damage to Country Sisters Restaurant and Bakery after being hit by a truck on May 18, 2022. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) (Dan Lauckner/CTV News Kitchener)Although there were five staff members in the restaurant at the time of the collision, no one — other than the 41-year-old male driver from Palmerston, Ont. — was injured. He only suffered a few cuts and bruises, and was quickly released from hospital.
Sarah, a close friend of the driver who hit the building, tells CTV News he told her he suffered a seizure, which is what led to the crash. She says the driver didn’t have a licence for awhile due to his epilepsy, but had been episode-free for five years, until Wednesday.
Police say they’re still investigating what led to the crash.
“For a moment, it was touch and go. Initially, it sounded very, very serious. Luckily it’s not as bad as we thought initially. But, we’re still trying to determine the cause,” said Wellington OPP Const. Joshua Cunningham.
OPP are investigating after a vehicle struck a building in Mapleton on May 18, 2022. (Source: OPP)As serious as a truck slamming into your restaurant is, this isn’t even the worst thing to happen to Country Sisters Restaurant in the past couple years. The restaurant burnt to the ground on March 29, 2020, and was just recently rebuilt and re-opened.
“These poor people have gone through enough. They had a fire a couple of years ago, and it just re-opened a few weeks ago. So now, they have this. It’s just really unfortunate,” said Dolores Byrne, a regular customer who drove from Mount Forest, Ont. this morning to examine the damage.
Country Sisters owners say they’ll get the damage fixed and expect to be open again as soon as possible.
“We can fix it, and hopefully go on again. Everybody is OK. We’re just so thankful for that,” said Wideman.
— With files from CTV News Kitchener
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada's role uncertain as NATO embarks on greatest overhaul since Cold War
As NATO prepares to embark on the greatest overhaul of the alliance’s deterrence capabilities since the Cold War at a leaders’ summit in Spain, Canada’s role in the new defence strategy remains uncertain.
Most domestic flights in Canada getting cancelled, delayed: data firm
More than half of all domestic flights from some of Canada's major airports are being cancelled or delayed, recent data has shown.
Canadians who want a Nexus card will have to travel to U.S. to get it
A Nexus card is supposed to help put low-risk Canadians on the fast track when crossing the U.S. border, but at least 330,000 Canadians aren’t sure when their applications will be processed.
Some cities rethinking Canada Day parades amid rising costs, funding challenges
Canada Day celebrations are making a return after two years of scaled-down festivities because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but some Canadians hoping to catch a traditional parade may be out of luck.
2 suspects killed, 6 police officers injured in shooting at bank in Saanich, B.C.
Six police officers are in hospital with gunshot wounds and two suspects have been killed following a shooting at a bank in Saanich, B.C., on Tuesday.
Memorial service today for RCMP Const. Heidi Stevenson, killed in N.S. mass shooting
An RCMP officer who was among 22 people killed in the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting is being remembered today during a regimental memorial service in Halifax.
'I just pray that they are going to be fine': Witnesses recall violent shooting at B.C. bank
Witnesses recount what they saw after police officers engaged in a shooting with armed suspects at a bank in Saanich, B.C., on Tuesday morning. Two suspects are dead and six officers are in hospital with gunshot wounds.
Barrie, Ont., man sentenced for masterminding landmark Ponzi scheme
The mastermind of an elaborate Ponzi scheme that cheated hundreds of people of tens of millions of dollars was sentenced Tuesday in a Barrie, Ont., courtroom. Charles Debono has been behind bars since his arrest in 2020 for his role in one of the largest Ponzi schemes in Canadian history.
Hindu man killed in filmed attack as religious tensions boil in India
Tensions were high Wednesday in the western Indian city of Udaipur, a day after police arrested two Muslim men accused of slitting a Hindu tailor's throat and posting a video of it on social media, in a brutal attack representing a dramatic escalation of communal violence in a country riven by deep religious polarization.
Kitchener
-
Family of Black 4-year-old removed from school by police sues Waterloo Catholic board
The family of a Black four-year-old who was removed from school by police has filed a lawsuit against the Waterloo Catholic District School Board seeking $1 million in damages for what they says is the board's discrimination and negligence.
-
Kitchener school creates kindness award in memory of mother killed in impaired driving crash
Every morning, when Karli Chomick would drop her children Savanna and Ryder off at St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School in Kitchener, she would do the same thing: give them a hug and a kiss, then tell them to be kind.
-
Crash closes section of Ira Needles Boulevard in Kitchener
Ira Needles Boulevard was closed between Highway 7/8 and Highview Drive.
Windsor
-
Manning Road in Essex reopens after crash
Manning Road in Essex is now open both directions between County Road 34/Talbot Road and County Road 46.
-
Do you recognize this person?
Police in Chatham-Kent are looking to identify a man as part of a break and enter investigation in Chatham.
-
Chance of showers and thunderstorms in Windsor-Essex
Temperatures in Windsor-Essex are slowly creeping up with the humidity coming into play again.
Barrie
-
Oro-Medonte crane rollover shuts down Highway 400
A crane truck overturned on Highway 400 northbound lanes at around 5 a.m. Wednesday morning.
-
Multiple truck thefts reported in Barrie in one night
Police in Barrie are investigating after five trucks with push-button start technology were stolen in one night.
-
Senior dies after collapsing in water in Wasaga Beach
A 70-year-old woman has died after collapsing while in the water in Wasaga Beach.
Northern Ontario
-
Sudbury’s Junction East cost now projected at over $98 million
City council in Sudbury gave the Junction East project its approval at Tuesday night’s meeting. The community hub will include the city’s main library, art gallery and multi-cultural-folk arts association under one roof at a cost of $98.5 million.
-
Mother spends 'awful' night on Toronto Pearson floor with young kids, baby amid Air Canada delays
A mother of three children is speaking out after spending a night on the floor of Toronto Pearson Airport with her young kids and six-month-old baby in a weekend of travel that she says cost her most than $1,000 in unexpected expenses.
-
Most domestic flights in Canada getting cancelled, delayed: data firm
More than half of all domestic flights from some of Canada's major airports are being cancelled or delayed, recent data has shown.
Ottawa
-
Motor vehicle control zone comes into effect around Parliament Hill
A multi-block vehicle control zone is in effect around Parliament Hill, meant to prevent a second occupation of downtown Ottawa by protesters associated with last winter’s 'Freedom Convoy' movement.
-
Three dead, police watchdog called in after Ottawa stabbing
Ontario's police watchdog is investigating after Ottawa police officers shot and killed a man and injured a woman while responding to the stabbing deaths of two women.
-
OLG reveals where winning Lotto Max ticket for $70M jackpot was bought in Ontario
Someone in Ontario is waking up $70 million dollars richer.
Toronto
-
OLG reveals where winning Lotto Max ticket for $70M jackpot was bought in Ontario
Someone in Ontario is waking up $70 million dollars richer.
-
Mother spends 'awful' night on Toronto Pearson floor with young kids, baby amid Air Canada delays
A mother of three children is speaking out after spending a night on the floor of Toronto Pearson Airport with her young kids and six-month-old baby in a weekend of travel that she says cost her most than $1,000 in unexpected expenses.
-
Canadians who want a Nexus card will have to travel to U.S. to get it
A Nexus card is supposed to help put low-risk Canadians on the fast track when crossing the U.S. border, but at least 330,000 Canadians aren’t sure when their applications will be processed.
Montreal
-
Housing still a source of stress for many Quebec families: survey
Housing remains a high source of stress for many Quebecers, according to a Léger poll.
-
Dutch Reach: Quebec coroner recommends technique to open your car door after cycling death
A coroner's report released Tuesday is calling on Quebec to teach new drivers to open their car doors with their right hand in order to prevent dooring incidents with cyclists.
-
Some cities rethinking Canada Day parades amid rising costs, funding challenges
Canada Day celebrations are making a return after two years of scaled-down festivities because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but some Canadians hoping to catch a traditional parade may be out of luck.
Atlantic
-
Memorial service today for RCMP Const. Heidi Stevenson, killed in N.S. mass shooting
An RCMP officer who was among 22 people killed in the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting is being remembered today during a regimental memorial service in Halifax.
-
RCMP official: Lucki claimed direct pressure from federal minister to name guns
A scathing letter from an RCMP communications manager released today says RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki referred to direct pressure from the federal public safety minister to release firearm details in the days after the Nova Scotia mass shooting.
-
It's a Dogfight! Saint John, Hamilton meet in Memorial Cup final
Two teams that skated through distinctly different paths in the playoffs will meet Wednesday in the final of the 2022 Memorial Cup.
Winnipeg
-
Two in hospital after scooter and vehicle collide in St. Boniface
Two people were taken to hospital in critical condition late Tuesday afternoon after vehicle and scooter collided in St. Boniface.
-
Summer Conditions Report outlines Manitoba’s flood risk, forecast for summer months
Manitoba’s Hydrologic Forecast Centre has issued its 2022 Summer Conditions Report, calling for a higher than normal risk of flooding on most major lakes and near-seasonal temperatures.
-
First-of-its-kind spearfishing course aimed at controlling invasive species in Clear Lake
A new invasive species in Clear Lake has Parks Canada taking steps to prevent damage to the aquatic ecosystem.
Calgary
-
Climate rallies to take place across Canada as groups push for action
Calgary's rally is scheduled for noon in the 1400 block of Eighth Street S.W.. outside the office of Conservative MP Greg McLean.
-
Province extends affordability measures amid fiscal year end $3.9B surplus
Alberta Finance Minister Jason Nixon says the final number on the 2021-22 fiscal year, which ended on March 31, is a $3.9-billion surplus.
-
'Appreciation and gratitude': Toronto couple thank Calgary fire crew for treating and transporting daughter to hospital
A Toronto couple expressed appreciation and gratitude for the fire fighters who treated and transported their three-year-old daughter to Children's hospital over the weekend.
Edmonton
-
Parents of 2012 HUB Mall murder victim fear Supreme Court decision could lead to shorter sentence for son's killer
The Supreme Court of Canada struck down a law passed by the former Stephen Harper Conservatives that allows a judge to increase parole ineligibility periods for offenders who commit multiple murders. Now there’s fear it could mean sentence “discounts” for other mass murderers.
-
Edmonton considering $54.4M injection to get snow and ice cleared faster
Edmonton is moving forward with a plan to improve snow and ice clearing on roads and sidewalks, but it could cost homeowners an extra three per cent in taxes over three years.
-
1 dead after crash involving pickup, semi NE of Edmonton
One person is dead after a crash north of Redwater on Tuesday.
Vancouver
-
B.C. premier planning to step down, says 'energy flags' since latest cancer bout
The premier of British Columbia has announced plans to step down, but will remain on the job until the provincial NDP can choose his successor.
-
'Just a baby': Vigil mourns 14-year-old Indigenous girl found dead in Vancouver
A vigil was held on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside Tuesday for Noelle O'Soup, an Indigenous girl whose body was found there a year after she went missing.
-
Man who lost his parents in Lytton, B.C., fire wants to go home
Janette and Michael Chapman died during the fire that devastated Lytton last year. Their grieving son is still looking for answers.