Oxford OPP briefs

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Pair of OPP officers injured after vehicles hit cruisers on snowy highway

Two Ontario Provincial Police officers were sent to hospital with minor injuries after their cruisers were struck from behind last Wednesday morning.

The officers were investigating a crash in the westbound lanes of Highway 403 at the Highway 53 exit, near Woodstock, when they were hit.

“We would just like to put out another reminder, the roadways are snow- and ice-covered,” said OPP Sgt. Ed Sanchuk said. “You need to slow down.”

He added when drivers see emergency lights, by law, they need to slow down and move over.

“If you can’t move over safely, you have to reduce your speed. This is just common sense.”

Oxford County was getting hit hard with snow as Environment and Climate Change Canada had issued a weather warning.

401 collision leads to serious injuries

On December 9, 2025, at approximately 6:37 p.m., Members of the Oxford OPP, Paramedic and Fire Services responded to a serious collision on Highway 401 on Dec. 9. It occurred in the eastbound lanes, west of Oxford Road 3 in the Township of Blandford-Blenheim, involving a passenger vehicle and a commercial motor vehicle. The driver of the passenger vehicle was transported to an area hospital and remains in life-threatening condition.

The eastbound lanes of Highway 401 between Cedar Creek Road and Oxford Road 29 were closed for a period while members from the West Region OPP Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement Team investigated the collision. No word on any potential charges.

Disturbance leads to impaired charges

A Zorra Township man is facing impaired driving related charges following a call for a disturbance.

On Dec. 14, at approximately 7:30 p.m., police were dispatched to a report of a disturbance on Delatre Street in Thamesford. Officers attended and spoke with a driver of a vehicle that had been involved in a single vehicle collision. There were no reported injuries but the 49-year-old Thamesford resident has been charged with impaired driving and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Woodstock on Feb. 3, 2026.