Tow truck operators in Sarnia-Lambton have been "extremely busy" over the past few weeks as winter storms continue to impact the region.
Collisions and unsafe road conditions have forced the temporary closure of Highway 402 multiple times over the past month. Most recently, on Monday, the eastbound lanes were closed for about two hours at Nauvoo Road and Kerwood Road because of multiple collisions, including a jackknifed tractor-trailer.
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Preferred Towing Co-owner Collin Vandenheuvel said they've received approximately five to 15 calls per day over the last two weeks.
"It's definitely a mix between the trucks and the cars," he said. "The last few weeks have definitely been heavier on the transport side of things. They've been the ones getting into more trouble than the passenger vehicles, but over the past couple of days, we've noticed that that's kind of switched and now we're dealing with more cars going into the ditches than the trucks."
Vandenheuvel said Highway 402 is one of the primary areas they're called out to since the open fields can cause icy patches.
"A lot of the county highways have been hit pretty hard too," he said.
In a Facebook post, Vandenheuvel noted one recent incident where a tractor trailer, loaded with 35,000 pounds of peat moss, had rolled onto its side. He said thankfully, no one was seriously injured.
After 13 years on the job, Vandenheuvel said there's not much that shocks him anymore.
"You kind of just get numb to everything. You go out to the job, you're focused on what you're doing and trying to get everything done as quickly as you can, and clear the roads and get everyone moving again," he said. "There's definitely been some odd jobs over the last little bit. We've had a lot of trucks flip right in the middle of the road, blocking the entire road... stuff like that."
He said this winter season has brought "a lot more snow" than this area is used to.
"This is probably the first real winter we've had in, I want to say, almost 10 years," Vandenheuvel said.
The winter season is far from being over. Drivers are being reminded to have a safety kit in their vehicles.
"That includes blankets, extra food, water bottles, an extra jacket, anything to keep you warm," he said. "Make sure your vehicle is full of fuel because sometimes we get these systems that blow in for a day or two and if the roads are too bad, obviously it makes it very hard to reach and get people out of the ditches."
Vandenheuvel is also reminding drivers to move over for tow truck operators.
"Slow down and move over when you see tow trucks -- or anyone on the side of the road, it doesn't have to be a tow truck," he said. "We're just trying to get home to our families at the end of the day."
