Morrisburg, Ontario (Rajeev Sharma) — A dangerous series of rock-throwing incidents on Highway 401 in eastern Ontario has left several vehicles damaged and prompted an investigation by the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police. Police say rocks and other debris have been thrown from overpasses onto vehicles travelling along the highway in the South Dundas area, creating a potentially deadly situation for motorists and commercial truck drivers.
The latest serious incident occurred on September 17, 2026, between approximately 3:30 a.m. and 4:30 a.m., when vehicles travelling eastbound on Highway 401 were targeted near the Brinston 401 Bridge. The OPP said several vehicles sustained severe damage, although fortunately no injuries were reported. Police are investigating the incident and believe it may be connected to another series of rock- and paint-throwing incidents reported in the preceding weeks.
The incidents have raised serious safety concerns because Highway 401 is a major commercial transportation corridor carrying heavy truck traffic through eastern Ontario. Police previously reported that rocks thrown from an overpass had struck tractor-trailers, with stones smashing through windshields and entering truck cabs. Similar incidents have been documented in the region in the past, underscoring the potentially catastrophic consequences of throwing heavy objects onto high-speed traffic.
Community concern has also intensified among truck drivers who regularly travel the Montreal–Toronto corridor during overnight and early-morning hours. However, claims that the attacks specifically targeted Indian truck drivers have not been confirmed by police, and there is currently no verified evidence establishing a racial or ethnic motive. Those claims should therefore be treated as allegations or community concerns rather than established facts.
Likewise, the number of people reportedly involved, the exact number of commercial trucks struck, and reports concerning the length of the police response have not been confirmed in the OPP information reviewed by National Times. Police have publicly confirmed that several vehicles were damaged and that the incidents occurred during early-morning hours, but have not publicly established that 20 to 30 trucks were hit in the September 17 incident.
The OPP is appealing to motorists, residents, and anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity around the overpasses to come forward. Investigators are particularly interested in dashcam footage, surveillance video, or other information that could help identify those responsible.
