Hazmat truck reverses on Highway 20 near Montreal after driver misses exit
A tanker carrying refrigerated liquid carbon dioxide backed up near Saint-Mathieu-de-Belœil on Friday evening, forcing nearby vehicles to swerve. The driver faced a $1,600 fine.
Sources · local media reports
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A truck transporting hazardous materials was caught reversing on Highway 20 near Montreal on Friday evening after the driver missed an exit, forcing nearby motorists to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
The incident occurred at approximately 6:09 p.m. on July 24 near the Saint-Mathieu-de-Belœil road safety checkpoint on Montreal's South Shore. Surveillance footage released by the Fraternité des constables du contrôle routier du Québec (FCCRQ), the union representing Quebec's road safety constables and traffic control officers, shows the tanker truck reversing along the highway as vehicles swerved around it.
According to the FCCRQ, the tanker was transporting refrigerated liquid carbon dioxide, which is classified as a dangerous good. After arriving at the checkpoint, road inspectors issued the driver a $1,600 fine and assessed four demerit points against the driver's licence. Authorities also suspended the driver's licence for seven days.
Despite the dangerous manoeuvre, no injuries were reported.
The facts
What was the truck carrying?
The tanker truck on Highway 20 near Montreal was transporting refrigerated liquid carbon dioxide, which is classified as a dangerous good.
When did the incident happen?
The incident occurred at approximately 6:09 p.m. on July 24, 2026, near the Saint-Mathieu-de-Belœil road safety checkpoint on Montreal's South Shore.
What penalties did the driver receive?
The driver received a $1,600 fine, four demerit points against their licence, and a seven-day licence suspension.
