A Toronto police officer has been hospitalized after his motorcycle collided with a tractor-trailer on Highway 403 in Mississauga Thursday afternoon. The crash occurred around 3:15 p.m. in the westbound lanes near Dundas Street, according to OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt.
Peel paramedics reported the officer is in serious condition, though Toronto police confirmed his injuries are not life-threatening. The officer, a veteran with over 30 years on the Motor Squad, was reportedly dragged under the truck, suffering a facial laceration and a near-split helmet. He is currently conscious and in a neck brace at a Hamilton hospital.
The officer had been participating in a training exercise on Lake Shore Boulevard earlier in the day, reportedly in preparation for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
The cause of the collision remains under investigation. Schmidt stated that weather and road conditions were clear at the time and that investigators are examining all contributing factors, including human error and mechanical issues.
The westbound lanes of Highway 403 were closed for several hours but have since reopened.