In each “Behind the Scenes” segment, Village Media's Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our local journalists to talk about the story behind the story.
These interviews are designed to help you better understand how our community-based reporters gather the information that lands in your local news feed. You can find more Behind the Scenes from reporter across Ontario here.
Today's spotlight is on BayToday's Chris Dawson, whose story "Locked down on Highway 11 North" was published on Mar. 8.
Below is the full story, in case you missed it.
Many northeastern Ontario motorists know the challenges of what the weather can bring on Highway 11.
One North Bay man, was making a delivery on Thursday to Timmins and was hoping to get home in time to catch the last period of the North Bay Battalion game on TV.
The weather forecast was ideal but he never would have thought he would end up being locked down inside his truck on Highway 11 for more than six hours.
Like many motorists and truck drivers along Highway 11 North, he was stuck in traffic along the busy highway near Latchford when the Ontario Provincial Police advised Latchford-area residents of a "Shelter-in-Place."
"The Temiskaming Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police remains on scene for an investigation in the area of Highway 11 and Portage Bay Road. Residents should anticipate an increased police presence in the area," says an early morning news release. The road is north of the community between Latchford and Cobalt,"
See related: 'Shelter in Place' life in Latchford
The North Bay man realized that this was not your typical highway accident delay. While stopped, he got sporadic updates on social media, due to inconsistent service, about what was going on.
The Ontario Provincial Police released few details but the investigation involved a suspect who was believed to be armed and dangerous. He was described as Middle Eastern, about 30 years old, and dressed in black.
This was far more serious than a traffic accident highway closure.
He says not knowing what was going on intensified his anxiety.
"It was scary seeing cop cars going up and down the highway and helicopters above," he said.
No one was getting out of their vehicles to see what was going on.
The North Bay man says he got out of his car for a moment and was immediately told by a driver to get back into his vehicle.
As the delay went from one hour to three hours, from three hours to six hours, the North Bay man realized he was left with only 1/4 tank of gas with well over 100 kilometres to drive to get back to North Bay once the highway opened.
He realized he was not getting home.
Thankfully, where he was stuck on the highway, he was able to still get cell service and made a call to a friend in New Liskeard who told him his best bet was to turn around and head north to New Liskeard.
By around 1 a.m. the "shelter-in-place" was lifted and he was able to turn around and head north to get gas at a truck stop along Highway 11 at 2 a.m.
He then drove south to Haileybury on Highway 11b to avoid the traffic and came out at Cobalt.
He ended up finally getting into his home in North Bay at 4:30 a.m.
It's a night he won't soon forget.
"I've never had anything like that happen," he said.
"It was frustrating, I had a tough time getting updates. The internet service was inconsistent so I didn't get immediate updates, so not knowing what was happening with phone service was not good, and being in and out of service. It made for a long night."
