Terrifying wrong-way driver 911 call from Hwy. 407 in Ontario released

In a 911 call, a driver relays how he narrowly avoided being hit by a wrong-way driver, travelling up to 160 km/hr on Highway 407.

The call came in around 11:10 p.m. on Saturday (Nov. 25), Durham Regional Police said in a press release.

It starts with a man explaining how he was nearly hit by a car travelling west in the eastbound lanes of Highway 407 near Harmony Road in Oshawa.

“Oh my God, he must have been going 160, 180 (km/hr),” the man says.

The caller, one of several callers, couldn’t get a good view of the car or the licence plate but police caught up with the suspect vehicle later.

Several Durham Police units and the RIDE team were dispatched and at approximately 11:15 p.m. the vehicle was located. The driver pulled over without incident and he was arrested.

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Maryon Tondera, 44, of Oshawa is charged with impaired operation; fail/refuse demand, dangerous operation and drive wrong way – divided highway, police said. He was released on a promise to appear in court at a later date.

“This incident could have had devastating consequences and underscores the importance of calling 911 when you suspect an impaired driver,” police added.

This call was transferred to OPP because it happened on a 400 series highway. The recording is the OPP dispatcher. But due to the urgent nature of the incident, Durham Regional Police communicators stayed on the line and Durham officers were also dispatched.

This call follows a similar incident of a wrong-way driver, also on Highway 407, earlier this month. This one was caught on damcam video.

If anyone has any information on this incident, please contact Const. Colin Campbell of DRPS Traffic Services at 1-888-579-1520 ext. 2343.

Anonymous information can be sent to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a $2,000 cash reward.