Original subtitles

[NARRATOR]: THIS WINTER ON HEAVY RESCUE 401...

IT'S CHAOS EVERYWHERE!

I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING OUT HERE.

[BANGING AND SMASHING]

THAT'S WHAT WE DO FOR A LIVIN'.

YOU'RE GOING WAY TOO FAST.

IT'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? IS IT A SANDSTORM?

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!

THEY DON'T CALL IT HEAVY RECOVERY FOR NOTHIN'.

COLLIN, GET OUT OF THAT LANE, NOW.

HOLY CRAP.

THIS IS GOING TO BE UGLY.

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!

[CRASHING]

IT'S TOO DANGEROUS FOR ANYBODY TO BE OUT HERE TONIGHT.

IT'S JUST DEADLY.

THERE'S A LOT OF BENT METAL HERE.

ALL THESE TOW TRUCKS,

I NEED A LANE!

[NARRATOR]: WINTER IS STILL WEEKS AWAY...

[NARRATOR]: ...BUT IN TORONTO,

THE SEASON'S FIRST SNOWSTORM IS ALREADY HERE...

[SIREN WAILING]

[TRAFFIC NEWS RADIO]: THIS HEAVY SNOWFALL

CONTINUES TO MAKE ITS WAY THROUGH THE REGION,

AND IT'S MAKING FOR A VERY TREACHEROUS DRIVE.

THE OPP ALREADY REPORTING DOZENS OF COLLISIONS

IN AND AROUND THE REGION.

401 WEST EXPRESS, AROUND MORNINGSIDE,

IN THE LEFT LANE.

[CALLS RINGING]

[NARRATOR]: ...AND ON HIGHWAY 401...

[RADIO]:I CAN'T QUITE SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AHEAD OF ME.

IT LOOKS LIKE AN ACCIDENT OF SOME SORT.

[NARRATOR]: ...SOME DRIVERS AREN'T READY FOR THE ONSLAUGHT.

ORILLIA 5 TANGO 007, JUST BE ADVISED,

I'LL BE EN ROUTE TO THAT ROLLOVER,

HIGHWAY 401 EASTBOUND ON TRAFALGAR ROAD.

[NARRATOR]: OPP SERGEANT KERRY SCHMIDT

IS STARING DOWN A TOUGH NIGHT ON THE ROAD.

[KERRY SCHMIDT]: WE'VE GOT THE FIRST WINTER BLAST HERE

RIGHT NOW.

THE ROADS ARE COVERED.

DRIVERS JUST AREN'T READY FOR THESE CONDITIONS,

THEY'RE NOT REALIZING

WHAT THEY'RE GETTING THEMSELVES INTO.

WE'VE GOT CARS IN DITCHES, WE'VE GOT SLOW TRAFFIC,

WE'VE GOT WRECKS ALL ACROSS THE GTA.

IT'S GONNA BE A WILD NIGHT.

[NARRATOR]: WEST OF THE CITY...

[KERRY]: I CAN SEE THE TRANSPORT TRUCK

DOWN IN THE DITCH.

[NARRATOR]: ...KERRY ARRIVES AT THE SCENE

OF THE NIGHT'S FIRST HEAVY COLLISION.

[KERRY]: THE LAST THING WE WANT TO SEE

IS A SECONDARY CRASH BEHIND US.

THERE WAS A CAR THAT LOST CONTROL

IN THE MIDDLE LANE,

FORCING THE TRACTOR TRAILER OFF INTO THE RIGHT DITCH.

THERE'S NO INJURIES.

[KERRY]: 25-YEAR-OLD MAN,

DRIVING A LITTLE TWO-DOOR SPORTS CAR,

LOST CONTROL ON THE SNOWY, SLIPPERY ROADS,

CLIPPED THE TRACTOR,

AND SENT IT OFF INTO THE DITCH.

IT'S BEEN A BUSY DAY, HASN'T IT?

IT HAS.

[NARRATOR]: HEAVY CREWS WILL CLEAR THE SCENE.

BUT TROUBLE IS FAR FROM OVER.

[KERRY]: THESE KINDS OF CONDITIONS,

WE DON'T WANT TO SEE PEOPLE OUT THERE

IF THEY DON'T ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BE,

BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA BE OUT HERE,

YOU CERTAINLY NEED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS

AND DRIVE ACCORDING TO THE CONDITIONS.

[NARRATOR]: 300 KILOMETRES SOUTHWEST OF TORONTO...

[NARRATOR]: ...THE UNEXPECTED WEATHER

IS BATTERING THE HIGHWAY EAST OF SARNIA.

[KYLE PEWTRESS]: THIS IS BRUTAL, MAN.

WE'VE GOT A SNOWPLOW IN THE DITCH HERE ON THE 402,

AND HE'S BLOCKING A LANE OF TRAFFIC.

HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET THROUGH HERE OURSELVES

WITHOUT GETTING OURSELVES IN TROUBLE.

[NARRATOR]: WHITEOUT SQUALLS OFF LAKE HURON

ARE BLINDING DRIVERS...

[KYLE]: IT'S KIND OF EERIE.

VISIBILITY IS MINIMAL,

SO WE'RE VERY CAUTIOUS GOING OUT HERE.

[NARRATOR]: THE CREW FROM PREFERRED TOWING

NEEDS TO RESCUE A SNOWPLOW FORCED OFF THE ROAD.

YOU KNOW IT'S A BAD NIGHT

WHEN THE PLOWS ARE GOING IN THE DITCH.

ABSOLUTELY WILD.

[NARRATOR]: GARY VANDENHEUVEL AND HIS SON, COLLIN,

ARE READY FOR THE WORST.

[GARY VANDENHEUVEL]: IT'S HITTING HARD.

IT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST ONES I'VE SEEN IN A LONG, LONG TIME.

[GARY]: NIGHTS LIKE THIS...

...THE HIGHWAYS ARE GETTING SHUT DOWN.

EVERYBODY'S BEING DIVERTED FROM THE ROADS...

...AND OUR JOB,

WE'RE JUMPING IN.

[KYLE]: GOOD TIMES HERE IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO.

WE'RE GOING INTO THE WORST OF THE WORST.

[KYLE]: WE'LL GO GET BUNDLED UP HERE,

AND WE'LL GO OUT AND SEE WHAT WE GOTTA DO

TO GET THIS GUY OUT.

[COLLIN VANDENHEUVEL]: VISIBILITY IS NEXT TO NIL,

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN.

[NARRATOR]: WITH THE ROTATOR BUSY ON ANOTHER SCENE,

GARY AND COLLIN ARRIVE WITH THE 50-TON...

LOOKS LIKE GARY DECIDED TO JOIN THE PARTY.

WHOO-HOO!

[NARRATOR]: ...JOINING KYLE PEWTRESS

AND HIS MEDIUM-DUTY WRECKER.

[GARY]: THIS IS A BIG, BIG UNIT.

THE TRACTOR ITSELF, THE TRUCK,

AND THE PLOW IN BEHIND.

HOW ARE YA?

NOT BAD.

MISERABLE, ISN'T IT?

YES, SIR.

WELL, WE'RE OUT TRYING TO CLEAR THE HIGHWAY,

AND NEXT THING I KNOW, I'M IN THE DITCH.

YOU LOADED, OR HOW MUCH YOU GOT IN?

FIVE TONS, SO YOU'RE ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN?

YOU GONNA CHECK FOR ME, COL?

YEAH.

WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHTS?

MY IDEA IS TO JUST KIND OF PULL THE FRONT

AND SLIDE IT ALL OUT,

AND HOPEFULLY THE BACK WING PART

STAYS UP ON THE ROAD.

[NARRATOR]: IF THEY CAN EASE THE PLOW TRUCK UP SIDEWAYS,

PULLING FROM THE FRONT,

THEY CAN AVOID CLOSING BOTH LANES,

AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT FIGHTING TOO MUCH WEIGHT.

[COLLIN]: UH, IT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN ALMOST EMPTY.

IT'S ALL ON ONE SIDE--

-HOW HIGH? ---BUT IT'S UP TO THE TOP.

LOOKS LIKE IT'S ALL SAND, TOO, EH?

YEAH, IT'S SAND, SO IT'S HEAVY.

YEAH.

[GARY]: WE HAVE TO DEVELOP ANOTHER PLAN.

THERE'S A LOT OF WEIGHT BACK THERE.

WAY TOO MUCH WEIGHT.

THAT THING IS STILL FULL.

IT'S FULL?

IT'S STILL FULL.

OOH.

[♪♪♪]

[NARRATOR]: ON NORTH AMERICA'S BUSIEST HIGHWAY...

[TRUCK RACING PAST]

...CLOSURE

IS NOT AN OPTION.

[♪♪♪]

[NARRATOR]: A HUNDRED KILOMETRES SOUTHEAST

OF GARY'S CREW...

[NARRATOR]: ...THE FRONT IS JUST STARTING TO BLOW IN.

THE SNOW HASN'T HIT,

BUT A BLAST OF FRIGID AIR IS ICING UP THE HIGHWAY.

[ERIC GODARD]: WE'RE HEADING UP TO DUTTON, WHICH IS...

IT'S LIKE THE 145 MARKER HERE ON THE 401.

[NARRATOR]: COXON TOWING'S ERIC GODARD

IS HEADING TO A ROLLOVER

AT A TRUCK STOP NEAR DUTTON.

[ERIC]: IT SOUNDS LIKE

WE'VE GOT A LOADED TRACTOR TRAILER

THAT'S FLIPPED OVER.

[NARRATOR]: ...BUT THE VETERAN OPERATOR

IS THINKING ABOUT MORE THAN JUST THE JOB AHEAD.

[ERIC]: IT'S BEEN A LOT OF YEARS

SINCE I'VE GONE TO A JOB

NERVOUS ABOUT WHAT I'M ABOUT TO ENCOUNTER.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRUCK OR THE LOAD.

[NARRATOR]: OVER THE SUMMER,

COXON MERGED WITH ANOTHER LOCAL COMPANY.

[ERIC]: WORKING WITH A NEW BOSS,

WORKING WITH A NEW TEAM,

THAT ONE'S, UH,

THAT ONE'S GOT ME, YOU KNOW, A LITTLE BIT,

A LITTLE BIT FLUSTERED, I GUESS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS I WORK FOR COXON'S TOWING SERVICE.

I HAVE FOR MORE THAN HALF MY LIFE NOW,

BUT I NOW WORK FOR COXON TOWING,

AS A DIVISION OF COUNTY TOWING.

[NARRATOR]: TONIGHT WILL BE ERIC'S FIRST HEAVY RECOVERY

AS PART OF A WHOLE NEW CREW...

[ERIC]: WELL, I SEE HIM NOW,

FLIPPED OVER IN THE DITCH.

[NARRATOR]: ...AND, AS FIRST ON SCENE,

HE ALREADY SEES THEY'RE IN FOR A FIGHT.

[ERIC]: WE'VE GOT A ROLLED-OVER TRACTOR-TRAILER.

LOOKS LIKE HE WAS NEGOTIATING THE CURB

AT THE BACK OF THE PARKING LOT,

AND JUST ENDED UP IN THE BOTTOM OF THIS DITCH.

I'M HERE A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF EVERYBODY ELSE.

TIME TO JUMP OUT

AND SEE WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH NOW,

GET A GOOD LOOK AT IT.

SOMETIMES, THE ICE IN THE PARKING LOT

BITES YOU IN THE ASS.

OH, YEAH!

THE HIGH SIDE OF THE TRAILER I THINK IS COMPROMISED.

I CAN DEFINITELY SEE PARTS OF THE ROOF THAT ARE.

ALONG THE VERY BACK CORNER,

AND ALONG THE SIDE PANEL IS ALL COMPROMISED.

THERE ARE BUNDLES OF RECYCLED CARDBOARD.

[ERIC]: THE LOAD ITSELF IS 42,000 POUNDS,

SO WE'RE GONNA BE DEALING WITH

REALLY CLOSE TO 80,000 POUNDS ON THE BUTTON.

THERE'S NOTHING EASY HERE.

WHEN YOU'VE GOT A FULLY-LOADED TRACTOR-TRAILER

DOWN A DITCH BANK THIS SIZE,

AND THE BACK IS ALREADY COMPROMISED...

WE'RE GONNA HAVE QUITE THE MESS.

I MEAN, THIS IS GONNA BE A BIG JOB, FOR SURE.

ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, IT'S GONNA BE AN UGLY DEAL.

IT'S AN EXTREMELY BIG TEST.

[NARRATOR]: AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 30 YEARS,

ERIC WILL BE THE NEW GUY.

OH, BOY.

WE'VE GOT A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT SNOW EVENT

COMING THROUGH LAMBTON COUNTY THIS EVENING.

CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ABOUT 76 CRASHES ON THE GO.

[NARRATOR]: 30 KILOMETRES EAST OF SARNIA...

IT'S TOO DANGEROUS FOR ANYBODY TO BE OUT HERE TONIGHT.

[NARRATOR]: ...GARY AND CREW CAN'T GO ANYWHERE

UNTIL THEY WORK OUT A NEW STRATEGY.

[COLLIN]: THE INITIAL PLAN

WAS TO JUST PULL THIS TRUCK OUT SIDEWAYS

AND GET IT BACK ONTO THE ROAD,

BUT WE'VE GOT A FAIR AMOUNT OF WEIGHT.

[GARY]: RIGHT NOW,

ALL THE WEIGHT IS IN THE FRONT OF THIS PLOW,

AND IF WE TRY AND PULL THIS THING SIDEWAYS,

I'M NOT SURE IT'LL SLIDE THE WAY WE WANT IT TO.

WE HAVE TO DEVELOP ANOTHER PLAN.

BASICALLY, WE NEED TO RIG

FROM THE BACK OF THE TRACTOR ITSELF,

AND JUST ROLL THIS TRACTOR BACK OUT,

IN THE SAME TRACKS THAT IT WENT INTO.

[NARRATOR]: BUT TO POSITION FOR THE PULL,

THEY'LL NEED TO MAKE THE MOVE GARY WAS TRYING TO AVOID...

ONCE IT'S SHUT DOWN,

THEN WE CAN GET THIS PLOW OUT OF HERE.

[NARRATOR]: ...CLOSING DOWN THE ENTIRE WESTBOUND HIGHWAY.

IF YOU'RE READY, I'LL STOP THEM HERE.

WE'RE READY TO GO.

LET'S DO IT.

LET'S GO, LET'S SPIN IT!

[GARY]: WE'VE GOT A LOT OF SNOW COMING.

IT'S STARTING TO PILE UP...

BRING IT OVER.

[GARY]: ...AND THIS IS A MAIN PIECE OF EQUIPMENT

FOR THE HIGHWAY CREWS,

SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT UP,

OUT SAFELY, AND UNDAMAGED,

SO IT CAN CARRY ON FOR THE NIGHT.

[KYLE]: WE'VE TURNED COLLIN'S TRUCK AROUND

SO WE CAN RUN A LINE TO THE BACK OF THE PLOW

AND GIVE A LITTLE PULL BACKWARDS TO GET HIM OUT.

THE SPADE'S DOWN?

WATCH YOUR FEET!

LET'S GET SOME GRIP!

[HYDRAULICS HISS]

[NARRATOR]: COLLIN DROPS HIS LIFT AXLE

FOR EXTRA TRACTION.

LITTLE TRICK MY DAD TAUGHT ME,

EXTRA TIRE ON THE GROUND, EXTRA RESISTANCE.

OKAY, COL, YOU READY?

READY.

LET'S PULL IT THROUGH.

[NARRATOR]: THE SAND TRUCK'S REAR "TOW-PLOW" BLADE

WILL MAKE IT TOUGH FOR COLLIN TO MANEUVER.

[GARY]: HE'S GOT TO WATCH THAT TOW PLOW.

IT'S COMING AT HIM.

OBVIOUSLY, WE DON'T WANT IT RAMMING

INTO THE SIDE OF OUR TRUCK.

GIVE IT A SECOND,

JUST WATCHING HOW HARD IT'S PULLING.

[COLLIN]: THE INITIAL PULL HERE,

IT'S REALLY FIGHTING ME.

HOLD UP.

HOLD UP, COLLIN!

[NARRATOR]: IT'S A FIGHT THEY CAN'T WIN

WITHOUT HELP FROM THE DRIVER.

YOU WANT TO PUT IT IN REVERSE?

[COLLIN]: WE'RE GONNA JUST GIVE IT A LITTLE BIT OF GAS

TO, HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW,

HELP MY TRUCK OUT TO PULL THIS THING OUT.

OKAY, LET'S TRY THAT, NICE AND EASY, GUYS.

[REVERSE ALERTS BEEPING]

THERE YOU GO...

GO, GO, GO.

OKAY, HAVE HIM STOP.

OKAY, STOP THERE.

-GO ON THE OTHER SIDE. -YUP.

READY?

YEAH, GO FOR IT.

[REVERSE ALERTS BEEPING]

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!

FRONT END'S SLIPPING.

OKAY, LET HIM GO.

KEEP COMING BACK, YOU'RE ALL RIGHT.

HOW MUCH ROOM DO WE GOT?

THERE'S ABOUT A FOOT IN BETWEEN THE TRUCK.

BACK REAL SLOW, GUYS.

THERE WE GO.

SHE'S LOOKING LIKE IT'S COMING OUT.

I'M KINDA LIKING WHAT I'M SEEING.

IT'S GOOD.

-STOP IT RIGHT THERE. -OKAY.

OKAY, COL, GET YOUR TRUCK OUT OF THE WAY IF YOU CAN.

YEAH.

HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET COLLIN AROUND HIM NOW.

OKAY, LET'S GIVE IT A TRY,

SEE IF IT'LL BACK OUT ON ITS OWN.

NICE AND EASY.

THERE WE GO.

I GOT 'ER.

THAT WAS GOOD.

IT ALL CAME TOGETHER, CAME OUT NICE.

IT'S NICE TO HAVE THIS THING OUT.

THE QUICKER WE CAN GET THIS THING DONE

AND GET THIS ROAD BACK OPEN,

THE QUICKER, YOU KNOW,

WE ALL GET TO GET OUT OF THIS SITUATION.

I LIVE FOR THIS.

[HORN HONKS]

[GARY]: THIS SNOWSQUALL,

THESE ARE GONNA CARRY ON THROUGH THE NIGHT

INTO THE MORNING,

IT'S PROBABLY GONNA CREATE A LOT OF PROBLEMS FOR US.

WANNA GO DO ANOTHER ONE?

[LAUGHS]

GET THIS HIGHWAY BACK OPEN

AND WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE.

[ERIC]: THE ROAD'S WET,

DOESN'T SEEM TO BE TOO BAD,

BUT WHEN YOU PULL INTO THIS PARKING LOT,

IT'S JUST A SHEET OF ICE.

[NARRATOR]: WITH THE STORM BEARING DOWN ON DUTTON...

THERE'S NOTHING EASY HERE.

[NARRATOR]: ...ERIC'S BEEN FORMING A PLAN

FOR HIS TOUGH RECOVERY.

NOW HE'LL HAVE TO RUN IT PAST THE NEW BOSS,

DEREK DIDONE,

KNOWN AS "SENIOR"...

HEY.

HEY, UH,

WANNA GO THROUGH BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING?

OKAY, UM...

YOU SAID FRONT CORNER...

NO, BACK...

FRONT OF THE TRAILER IS ALL RIGHT?

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LOT OF YEARS,

I CAN TELL YOU, I WAS HONESTLY A LITTLE NERVOUS.

I JUST WANT TO CHAIN THIS AXLE TO THE FRAME AND THAT ONE.

ALL RIGHT.

[ERIC]: THE WHOLE DYNAMIC IS NEW TO ME,

AND THAT'S PUT ME OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE

A LITTLE BIT.

[NARRATOR]: ...BECAUSE COXON

IS NOW A PART OF SENIOR'S TIGHT-KNIT FAMILY COMPANY,

COUNTY TOWING.

[DEREK "SENIOR" DIDONE]: WHEN I WAS THE AGE OF 18,

I STARTED COUNTY TOWING,

AND HERE WE ARE 41 YEARS LATER, STILL DOING IT.

SO WHERE ARE WE AT WITH ALL THESE WRECKS HERE?

[SENIOR]: I'VE GOT MY THREE SONS.

THEY PROBABLY LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE IN A TOW TRUCK.

CURTIS HAD A BLOWOUT

HAULING THE SCRAP THERE ON SATURDAY.

[SENIOR]: SO, THE FAMILY IS VERY, VERY INVOLVED

IN THE BUSINESS.

[SENIOR]: WHAT DO WE GOT FOR A PAYLOAD?

40... I DON'T WANT TO SAY, HE SAID 42,000.

[SENIOR]: ERIC WAS OUR COMPETITION.

I GOT A CHAIN RIGGED TO THE NOSE,

GOT THE DRIVE LINE PULLED OUT.

IF I COULD BEAT ERIC OUT OF A JOB,

I'M THERE TO DO IT,

AND HE'S THE SAME WAY.

THERE IS NO WAY

WE'RE GONNA GET A STRAP UNDER THIS THING RIGHT NOW.

[NARRATOR]: TONIGHT,

THEY'LL FIND OUT IF THEY CAN WORK TOGETHER.

MY THOUGHT WAS THIS,

RIG THE TRACTOR,

RIG THE TRAILER HERE IN THE FRONT,

AND THEN ALSO GRAB IT CLOSER TO THE BACK--

WHAT DO YOU WANNA TRY TO DO,

BRING HIM UP OVER THE CREST?

AT LEAST ENOUGH THAT WE CAN SAFELY OFFLOAD IT.

[SENIOR]: WE HAVE TO BRING THIS TRAILER BACK UP THE BANK,

IN ONE PIECE,

WHERE IT'S SAFE TO GET THE LOAD OFF THE TRAILER.

[ERIC]: IF THE ROOF IS COMPLETELY COMPROMISED

DOWN IN THE BOTTOM OF THAT DITCH, WHEN WE MOVE IT,

IT'S NOT GONNA WORK.

I THINK THE MORE LINES THAT WE CAN GET ON IT,

THE WAY BETTER CHANCE WE GOT OF GETTING IT UP TOP.

THE BIGGEST THING IS, THE MORE PEOPLE WE PUT,

THE MORE IN SYNC WE GOTTA BE.

OH, WITHOUT A DOUBT.

IF WE GET OUT OF SYNC, IT'S DONE.

YEP.

SO, YOU'RE OKAY WITH ALL THAT?

IT'S PLAN A.

OPTION A IS OFFLOAD IT, NICE FLAT, DRY GROUND.

OPTION B,

THAT INVOLVES OFFLOADING IT IN THIS DITCH.

OPTION B SUCKS,

SO WE'RE NOT GONNA GO WITH OPTION B.

[ERIC]: IT'S RELIEVING TO HAVE HIM AGREE WITH MY PLAN,

BUT IN SOME WAYS,

IT, YOU KNOW, PUTS A LITTLE BIT OF PRESSURE ON YOU, RIGHT?

IF THE TOP OPENS UP LIKE A SARDINE CAN,

YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY FAULT.

[NARRATOR]: ERIC'S ROTATOR WILL HOOK TO THE TRACTOR

AND FRONT OF THE TRAILER.

SENIOR WILL PULL THE BACK

WITH HIS SON, DENNIS, IN THE MIDDLE.

12 WINCH LINES PULLING,

WITH 42,000 POUNDS PUSHING AGAINST THE ROOF.

[ERIC]: THAT'S A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF ANCHOR POINTS

FOR A LOADED VAN TRAILER.

ANY LESS IS JUST NOT GONNA WORK.

HEY, DENNIS,

YOU'RE GONNA BASICALLY GRAB THE LANDING GEAR IN THE FRONT.

OKAY...

START PULLING.

[SENIOR]: IT'S GOING TO BE VERY TRICKY

NOT TO CAUSE MORE DAMAGE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT COULD GO WRONG.

WE'RE GOOD ON THIS ONE.

OKAY.

THE MOST DANGEROUS PULLS WE'RE GONNA HAVE HERE

IS YOUR LANDING GEAR

AND MY TRAILER CHAIN.

THOSE ARE THE ONES WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO REALLY NURSE.

YEAH, WELL,

WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT HOW IT'S GONNA COME.

-REAL QUICK. -RIGHT.

YUP, REAL QUICK.

WHEW, SHE'S SLIPPERY.

[ERIC]: THE ENTIRE PARKING LOT IS JUST A SKATING RINK.

ENOUGH TO MAKE IT TRICKY FOR SURE.

[NARRATOR]: AND THE SNOW IS STARTING TO BLOW IN.

[SENIOR]: THIS IS IT.

I MEAN, WE'RE RIGGED, WE'RE READY,

AND WE PRAY LIKE HELL

THIS THING COMES OUT WITHOUT SPLITTING OPEN.

DEREK, ARE YOU GOOD?

YEAH, WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

IT'S EITHER GONNA START TO SLIDE UP THIS DITCH BANK,

OR IT'S JUST GONNA EMPTY THE LOAD

INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE DITCH.

PLAN A BETTER WORK,

'CAUSE PLAN B SUCKS.

YEAH, IT'S... SHE'S HEAVY.

DEREK, YOU OKAY?

SO FAR, SO GOOD.

[METAL CREAKING]

[ERIC]: EVERY TIME WE MOVE IT A LITTLE BIT...

[CREAKING AND STRAINING]

...YOU START TO HEAR THE CREAKS, AND THE MOANS...

[METALLIC GROANING]

THAT'S THE LAST THING YOU WANNA HEAR

ON A JOB LIKE THIS.

IF WE LET IT DIG INTO THE GROUND TOO MUCH

AT ANY ONE POINT,

THE AMOUNT OF FORCE THAT THAT'S GONNA CREATE

IS JUST ENORMOUS.

LET ME CATCH UP A LINE HERE, GUYS.

[ERIC]: THE TRAILER, EVEN IF IT WASN'T COMPROMISED,

ISN'T DESIGNED TO TAKE THAT KIND OF A HIT.

[CREAKING AND STRAINING]

OOH, WATCH THAT.

IS THAT YOU SLIPPING BACK?

[ERIC]: OKAY, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

HOLD!

[ERIC]: OH, BOY.

[NARRATOR]: JUST OFF THE 401,

EAST OF WINDSOR...

OKAY, HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

WHO'S STILL PULLING?

HOLD!

DAMN IT.

[NARRATOR]: ...THE COMBINED COXON AND COUNTY CREW

IS FIGHTING HEAVY RESISTANCE.

[ERIC]: THE DIRT PILING UP HERE

IS DEFINITELY NOT WHAT WE WANTED.

WE CAN'T SEEM TO GET ENOUGH LIFT

TO PREVENT THAT BOTTOM EDGE FROM DIGGING INTO THE GROUND.

WE WANNA TRY TO TAKE IT OUT ALL PARALLEL.

RIGHT NOW, THE TRAILER IS LEADING THE TRACTOR.

HEY, GUYS, I'VE GOT A SPARE LINE.

I CAN BRING IT TO THE FRONT OF THIS TRUCK

AND BRING THE TRUCK AROUND.

YEAH, LIKE THE FRONT OF THE TRACTOR?

YUP, YUP.

THEN MOST DEFINITELY.

OKAY, CAN I GET A HAND OVER HERE?

[SENIOR]: PULLING THIS MUCH WEIGHT UP,

WE REALLY, REALLY NEED TO MAKE SURE

EVERYBODY WORKS IN SYNC.

THAT WORKS.

[SENIOR]: ONE GUY PULLS HARDER THAN THE OTHER,

TRAILER SPLITS OPEN,

DUMPS ALL THE CARDBOARD INTO THE WET DITCH,

AND WE GOT A BIG MESS.

[ERIC]: SENIOR, I'M GONNA TIGHTEN UP.

[NARRATOR]: BUT EVEN ANOTHER LINE FROM ERIC'S ROTATOR

MIGHT NOT ADD ENOUGH LIFT.

I'M GONNA TRY AND GIVE THIS A LITTLE PULL, GUYS.

DENNIS,

YOU'RE LIGHT ON THE LEFT THERE.

THIS THING'S GOTTA BE COMING UP HERE SOON.

[SENIOR]: OKAY, HOLD ON,

I GOTTA CATCH UP A BIT.

YEAH. I'M GONNA HOLD THEN.

[SENIOR]: THAT'S NICE.

HERE SHE COMES.

GOOD THERE, YOU GUYS?

YES, HOLD, HOLD. I THINK WE'RE GOOD.

[SENIOR]: FINALLY!

[LAUGHS IN TRIUMPH]

[SENIOR]: PLAN A WORKED PRETTY GOOD,

SO AS SOON AS WE GET 'ER OFFLOADED,

WE'LL GET 'ER BACK UP ON 'ER WHEELS,

AND, HOPEFULLY, WE'LL BE OUTTA HERE.

[ERIC]: FOR ALL THE FUSS AND BUSS

I THINK WE'RE IN BETTER SHAPE THAN I EXPECTED.

BETTER THAN I HOPED FOR.

NOW...

TIME TO OFFLOAD IT.

TEDIOUS,

BUT IT SURE BEATS TRYING TO DO IT FROM DOWN THERE.

THAT IS THE LAST ONE.

THAT'S THE ONE THAT MATTERS.

SAD TO SAY THIS IS THE EASY PART.

YEAH.

[NARRATOR]: THE HARD PART,

UPRIGHTING THE SEVERELY DAMAGED TRAILER IN ONE PIECE.

[ERIC]: I'M JUST GONNA DO A QUICK LINE FROM THE ROTATOR

OVER THE BACK OF THE TRAILER...

[SENIOR]: WRAP ONE AROUND

THAT UPPER DUAL,

GRAB THAT RED CABLE, THE RED HOOK...

[ERIC]: SENIOR'S GONNA PULL THE LOW SIDE ON THE TRUCK,

ON THE NOSE OF THE TRAILER,

AND WE'RE JUST GONNA LET IT COME OVER.

[SENIOR]: OKAY, THAT'S GOOD.

NOTHING FANCY.

WHAT'S YOUR PLAN FOR THE RECOVERY?

YOU JUST GONNA LET IT FLOP DOWN?

WHY, YOU WANNA CATCH IT?

WELL-- DO WHATEVER YOU WANT,

DON'T MATTER TO ME.

I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE I'M ON A SAME PAGE, IS ALL...

[NARRATOR]: ADDING A CATCH LINE

WOULD SOFTEN THE LANDING

AND COULD HELP PREVENT MORE DAMAGE.

I'VE ALWAYS RIGGED WITH A CONTROL LINE.

I MEAN, THAT'S JUST THE WAY I'VE ALWAYS OPERATED.

I'M JUST GONNA LIFT THE TRAILER OVER WITH YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M NOT GONNA CATCH ANYTHING AT ALL.

THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID, RIGHT?

YOU'RE GOOD WITH THAT?

YEAH, I DON'T THINK IT'S GONNA COME OVER THAT HARD.

[SENIOR]: WE'RE DEALING WITH AN EMPTY TRAILER.

THERE'S NO REAL WEIGHT THERE.

THE TRAILER WILL COME DOWN A LITTLE HARDER THAN NORMAL,

BUT IT WILL BE A CONTROLLED ROLLOVER.

ONCE YOUR TRACTOR STARTS TO GO,

AND IT LOOKS GOOD,

I'M JUST GONNA GO WITH YOU.

[ERIC]: THIS IS GONNA GO BAD,

THE TRACTOR'S GONNA COME OVER,

AND THE TRAILER'S GONNA TWIST AND BREAK IN HALF,

AND END UP WITH HALF OF IT ON THE GROUND

IF I DON'T FOLLOW.

[SENIOR]: TELL ME WHEN YOU'RE READY THEN.

I'M READY WHENEVER YOU ARE.

[ERIC]: YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY,

HE SIGNS MY CHEQUE.

IF HE SAYS THAT'S THE WAY IT IS,

THEN THAT'S THE WAY IT'S GONNA BE.

OKAY, READY?

READY SET, HERE WE GO.

I'M WITH YOU HERE.

GOT 'ER, ERIC?

[CREAKING]

[ERIC]: THE ENGINE IS BY FAR

THE HEAVIEST PART OF THE ENTIRE UNIT.

AT SOME POINT, THAT TRACTOR ENGINE IS GONNA GO

BEFORE YOU'RE PREPARED FOR IT.

[SENIOR]: WE'RE GETTING PRETTY CLOSE, I THINK.

TELL ME HOW CLOSE YOU ARE.

WE'RE DAMN NEAR THERE.

[ERIC]: WHEN IT GOES, IT'S GONNA BE LIKE A WHIP,

AND THE REST OF THIS STUFF IS GONNA SNAP OVER REAL QUICK.

HERE WE GO, ERIC.

OKAY, I'M JUST GONNA GO.

[SENIOR]: TRACTOR'S GOING, YOU GOT 'ER.

[ERIC]: HERE WE GO.

[BANGING, RATTLING]

[LAUGHTER]

SHOOK THE SNOW OFF IT ANYHOW.

[ERIC]: I DON'T NORMALLY ROLL THE TRUCKS OVER LIKE THIS

AND LET 'EM HIT THE GROUND THAT HARD,

BUT TRUTH IS, IT'S KINDA FUN, AND, UH...

A LITTLE EXCITING, FOR SURE.

[LAUGHS]

[SENIOR]: OUR FIRST BIG WRECK TOGETHER

WITH BOTH COMPANIES COMBINED...

PERFECT.

OH, YEAH.

WE'RE ALL TIRED,

BUT WE'RE ALL PRETTY STOKED THAT EVERYTHING WORKED GOOD.

SO, I'M OFF TO THE NEXT ONE.

I THINK WE'RE GOOD.

YOU GUYS CLEAR?

FIRST BIG RECOVERY I'VE DONE WITH THE COUNTY CREW.

TO BE HONEST, I HAD A LOT OF FUN DOING IT.

IT'S A GREAT SIGN OF THINGS TO COME.

[NARRATOR]: ERIC'S ALREADY STARTING TO FEEL--

AND LOOK--

LIKE PART OF THE COUNTY FAMILY.

IT'S NEW, EH?

SEE ALL THE FANCY LIGHTS?

THEY HAD ME PUT SOME FANCY NEW SPOTLIGHTS ON.

I THINK IT MAKES MY TRUCK GO FASTER.

[HONKS HORN]

[SENIOR, OVER RADIO]: HEY, GUYS, ALL KIDDING ASIDE,

THAT WAS A PRETTY GOOD JOB.

[NARRATOR]: 250 KILOMETRES EAST...

[NARRATOR]: ...CONDITIONS AROUND TORONTO

ARE ONLY GETTING WORSE...

[NARRATOR]: ...AND ON AN ON-RAMP TO THE 401...

YOU OKAY?

[NARRATOR]: ...STEVE'S TOWING OWNER STEVE PILLAI

IS TRYING TO GET A STUCK DRIVER BACK ON HER WAY.

[STEVE PILLAI]: THE SNOWPLOWS CAN'T DO THE RAMP YET,

SO THE PEOPLE COMING UP THE RAMP,

THEY'RE GETTING STUCK.

YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY.

WE'RE GONNA HELP HER OUT, OKAY?

WHEN I LOOKED AT THIS GIRL STUCK IN THE SNOW,

IT REMINDED ME EXACTLY OF MY DAUGHTER.

SHE GOT HER LICENSE JUST SIX MONTHS AGO.

ONE DAY, SHE'S DRIVING, YOU KNOW,

AND SHE'S GONNA BE IN THE SAME SITUATION.

ALL RIGHT.

OKAY, THANK YOU, OKAY?

[NARRATOR]: 40 KILOMETRES UP THE 400,

HEAVY SNOW HAS FORCED TRAFFIC TO A CRAWL...

[NARRATOR]: ...AND THE OFF-RAMP TO HIGHWAY 9

IS CLOSED.

IT'S CHAOS NOW.

IT'S EVERYWHERE BUSY.

THE TRANSPORT TRUCK HIT THAT BLACK ICE OR SOMETHING,

AND IT'S GONE INTO THE DITCH.

[NARRATOR]: STEVE'S ROTATOR OP, SONNY SUBRA,

NEEDS TO GET IT BACK OPEN.

DRIVER WAS IN THAT TRUCK.

NOW, HE SHOULD BE INSIDE BECAUSE IT'S COLD OUTSIDE.

[SONNY SUBRA]: I FEEL A LOT OF PRESSURE

BECAUSE THE RAMP IS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN.

GUESS WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW THINGS GONNA GO, DERIC, OKAY?

THAT RAMP HAS TO BE OPEN AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

[NARRATOR]: BUT THE POSITION OF THE JACKKNIFE,

WITH THE TRACTOR DOWN THE SLOPE,

WILL MAKE IT A CHALLENGE TO STRAIGHTEN

WHILE KEEPING THE TRAILER UPRIGHT.

CAN YOU PULL IT?

[SONNY]: IF I HAD ONE MORE TRUCK,

I WOULD HAVE GET IT DONE, LIKE, VERY FAST.

I ASKED HIM ABOUT ONE MORE TRUCK,

BUT THEY DON'T WANNA GIVE ME ONE MORE TRUCK, SO...

[SONNY]: MY BOSS SAID, "SONNY,

I AM NOT SENDING YOU ANY MORE TRUCK THERE

BECAUSE WE ARE BUSY."

[NARRATOR]: HIS ONLY HELP, ONE-TON DRIVER DERIC CRUZ,

WHO, LIKE SONNY, FLED CIVIL WAR IN SRI LANKA.

DERIC, YOU READY?

[NARRATOR]: DERIC IS NEW TO HEAVY RECOVERY.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

[LOOSE CHAIN RATTLING]

[SONNY]: WHAT THE...?

DERIC!

HOW COME IT CAME OFF?

[SONNY]: DERIC IS A NEW GUY.

HE CAME TO OUR COMPANY, LIKE, IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO.

HE DON'T REALLY HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.

-LIKE THIS? -YEAH.

[DERIC CRUZ]: I KNOW ALL THE BASIC STUFF...

BUT I'M LUCKY I HAVE SONNY.

I'M GONNA BRING IT OUT, LITTLE BIT, LITTLE BIT.

YOU TELL ME IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG, OKAY?

OKAY, OKAY. COOL, COOL.

[DERIC]: HE'S TRAINING ME, LIKE, LITTLE BY LITTLE.

I WANT TO BECOME LIKE SONNY.

[SONNY]: WE GOTTA WORK HARD,

AND WE GOTTA OPEN THIS RAMP VERY FAST.

DERIC, YOU'RE READY?

YEAH, BRING IT UP.

THE TRACTOR PART,

IT'S COMPLETELY HANGING IN THE DITCH.

GO MORE, GO MORE!

[SONNY]: RIGHT NOW, MY WORRY IS

WHEN I PULL THE FRONT END DOWN...

I MIGHT TIP OVER THE TRAILER, RIGHT?

WHOA! WHOA!

DERIC, I CAN'T SEE, MAN.

GO SLOWLY, YEAH?

OKAY.

I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE.

GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD.

[DERIC]: IF YOU DO, LIKE, ONE WRONG MOVE,

IT'S GONNA BE BAD,

VERY BAD.

[GRINDING]

WHOA! OH! OH!

STAY THERE, STAY THERE!

[TRUCKER RADIO]: IT'S SNOWING LIKE CRAZY, GUYS.

[NARRATOR]: ON A RAMP OFF HIGHWAY 400...

[DERIC]: SONNY, I'M COLD, MAN!

[SONNY]: I KNOW, IT'S FREEZING, MAN.

WE GOTTA DO IT FAST AS WE CAN.

[NARRATOR]: ...SONNY AND DERIC

ARE TRYING TO EASE THE TRACTOR UP...

[SONNY]: THIS WEATHER IS CRAZY.

IT'S ONLY GETTING WORSE.

I CAN'T SEE, MAN.

GO SLOWLY, YEAH?

[NARRATOR]: ...WITHOUT CAUSING A MUCH BIGGER PROBLEM.

WHOA! OH! OH!

STAY THERE, STAY THERE!

I DON'T WANT THE TRAILER TO GO INTO THE DITCH.

WE DON'T WANT TO ROLL IT AGAIN, MAN.

[SONNY]: WHEN I PULL THE FRONT END UP,

I MIGHT TIP OVER THE TRAILER.

I NEED TO PULL THE TRAILER BACKWARD

WHILE I'M LIFTING IT UP.

[NARRATOR]: BUT SONNY DOESN'T HAVE

A SECOND HEAVY WRECKER

TO PUT ON THE TRAILER...

THIS RAMP HAS TO BE OPENED RIGHT NOW.

[NARRATOR]: ...SO HE HAS TO IMPROVISE.

WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?

-CAN YOU ANCHOR THE TRAILER? -OKAY.

SO IT'S NOT GONNA GO DOWN MORE INTO THE DITCH.

IT'S AN EMPTY TRAILER.

PUT DERIC'S TRUCK IN THE BACK...

WE HAVE TO DO WITH WHAT WE HAVE.

OKAY, I'M GONNA SWING THE BOOM.

YOU PULL IN SLOWLY, OKAY?

[NARRATOR]: DERIC WILL HAVE TO DRIVE HIS ONE-TON FORWARD

TO HOLD THE TRAILER,

WHILE SONNY LIFTS THE TRACTOR TO THE RAMP.

OKAY, PULL!

[DERIC]: YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND,

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF STEVE'S TOWING GUYS THERE.

IT'S ME AND SONNY.

PULL! PULL!

MORE, MORE, MORE!

GIVE ME A SEC, GIVE ME A SEC!

YEAH.

OKAY!

OKAY, OKAY!

GOOD ENOUGH.

IT'S ALL GOOD?

YEAH.

OKAY, LET ME MOVE MY TRUCK.

[NARRATOR]: WITH THE TRACTOR ON MORE LEVEL GROUND,

THEY CAN NOW RIG TO PULL IT STRAIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA PUT A HOOK ON THE FRONT.

OKAY.

AH...

THERE IS NO HOOK IN THE FRONT.

DERIC, THIS IS NOT GOING IN, MAN.

[NARRATOR]: THEY CAN'T HOOK ON TO THE FRONT,

SO ONCE AGAIN,

TIME TO IMPROVISE.

JUST BRING THAT SMALL CHAIN,

FEED IT THROUGH HERE.

IN THE TIRE?

YEAH.

WE COULDN'T FIND THE TOW HOOK FOR THE TRACTOR,

SO WE'RE GONNA HOOK IT ON THE WHEEL,

AND THEN TRY TO DRAG IT THIS SIDE.

DERIC, COME ON, LET'S GO!

[DERIC]: IT'S VERY CHALLENGING,

THE BODY WON'T LET YOU WORK THAT FAST, YOU KNOW,

BECAUSE IT'S TOO COLD.

MY HANDS ARE FROZEN.

I CAN'T EVEN FEEL MY HANDS.

DERIC, HURRY UP!

GO INSIDE--

YEAH?

--AND THEN TURN THE STEERING THIS WAY.

WE'RE GONNA LIFT UP THE TRACTOR,

AND THEN WE'RE GONNA BRING IT OUT OF THE DITCH.

OKAY.

-READY? -YEAH.

[CREAKING]

OH...

GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD.

[CREAKING]

GO, GO, GO!

YEAH, IT'S COMING, IT'S COMING, YEAH.

THAT'S IT.

IT'S FREEZING, MAN.

MY HAND IS FREEZING.

HOLD UP, HOLD UP.

HOLD ON, LET ME SEE IF THE TRACTOR CAN MOVE.

OKAY.

[SONNY]: WE JUST STRAIGHTENED THE TRACTOR.

IF WE CAN DRIVE THE TRACTOR TRAILER

OFF THE RAMP,

THAT'S THE FASTEST WAY TO OPEN THE RAMP.

[ENGINE RUMBLING]

[AIR BRAKES HISS]

[DERIC]: WHEN HE'S STARTING TO MOVE FROM THE RAMP...

KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING!

...I WAS THE HAPPIEST PERSON IN THE WORLD,

I WOULD SAY. [LAUGHS]

AWESOME.

I CAN'T DEAL WITH THAT COLD NO MORE.

THAT'S GOOD, DERIC.

[SONNY]: DERIC DID A GOOD JOB.

HE'S WILLING TO LEARN,

AND HE'S EAGER TO WORK IN THIS KIND OF WEATHER.

[DERIC]: WHERE'S THE DRIVER?

[SONNY]: HE'S IN MY TRUCK.

HE'S A TOUGH GUY NOW.

[NARRATOR]: THE TRUCK'S DRIVER CAN NOW TAKE OVER.

YEAH. AWESOME. THANK YOU SO MUCH, EH?

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, OFFICER.

LET'S GO, LET'S GO.

HIGHWAY IS GONNA BE OPEN IN ONE MINUTE!

[HONKS HORN]

[♪♪♪]

[NARRATOR]: BY THE END OF THE WEEK...

[NARRATOR]: ...WEATHER AND ROADS ARE CLEAR...

[NARRATOR]: ...TEMPTING SOME DRIVERS

TO PUSH THEIR LUCK.

[ROB LONG]: GOOD WEATHER OR BAD WEATHER,

SPEED IS WHAT CAUSES CRASHES.

YOU'RE FLYING ALONG,

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN TRAFFIC SLOWS DOWN,

AND YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STOPPING DISTANCE,

YOU'RE GONNA BE CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF YOU.

[NARRATOR]: EAST OF TORONTO,

OPP CONSTABLE ROB LONG PATROLS THE 401,

ON THE LOOKOUT FOR DANGEROUS BEHAVIOUR.

OH, LOOK AT THIS TRUCK.

SO IF I LINE IT UP,

I CAN JUST GET MY CRUISER IN BETWEEN THE TWO.

IF I WANTED TO GO BUMPER TO BUMPER,

AT 100 KILOMETRES PER HOUR.

[ACTIVATES SIREN]

[SIREN BLARES AND STOPS]

IT COULD BE EXTREMELY BAD

IF A TRUCK'S FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY.

TRUCKS NEED A BIGGER GAP TO STOP.

THEY ARE USUALLY A LOT MORE HEAVY

THAN ANY SMALLER VEHICLE.

THE REASON FOR THE STOP WAS,

YOU WERE FOLLOWING THAT GUY SO CLOSE.

YES, SIR.

YOU'RE FLASHING YOUR HIGH BEAMS AT HIM,

EVEN IF IT'S JUST ONCE,

IT'S NOT SAFE TO BE DOING THAT.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW DANGEROUS THAT IS?

YES, SIR.

I'VE BEEN TO SEVERAL COLLISIONS OVER MY CAREER

WHERE IT'S ENDED IN A FATALITY.

IF HE STOPPED ON A DIME,

THERE'D BE NO WAY YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO STOP QUICK ENOUGH

TO GET IN THERE.

[ROB]: IT MAY BE NOTHING THAT NECESSARILY THE TRUCK DID.

IF A TRUCK'S BEEN CUT OFF,

THEN THEY DIDN'T GET THE OPPORTUNITY

TO HAVE THAT STOPPING DISTANCE.

SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID,

TODAY, YOU'RE GETTING CHARGED WITH FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY.

DON'T FOLLOW SO CLOSE.

GIVE YOURSELF THAT CUSHION.

[ROB]: YOU NEVER KNOW

WHEN THAT CAR'S GOING TO LOSE CONTROL.

THE BEST THING THAT THE PUBLIC CAN DO

IS MOVE OVER, SLOW DOWN.

YOU'RE GOING TO GET THERE,

IT JUST MIGHT TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

PEOPLE NEED TO SLOW DOWN,

IT'S THE BIGGEST MESSAGE.

[♪♪♪]

[NARRATOR]: AND 140 KILOMETRES WEST,

A COLLISION BETWEEN A SEMI AND CAR

HAS SHUT DOWN 14 KILOMETRES OF THE 401.

[TRAFFIC NEWS RADIO]: CREWS HAVE DETOURS IN PLACE

BUT IT'S GONNA BE A WHILE

BEFORE WE SEE ANY LANES RE-OPEN.

[OPP OFFICER]: WE HAD A VEHICLE COLLISION

INVOLVING A TANKER TRUCK AND ANOTHER MOTORIST,

WITH THE TANKER TRUCK ROLLING

AND SPILLING SOME JET FUEL ONTO THE HIGHWAY.

CLEAN-UP CREWS ARE ON SCENE,

GETTING THE ROAD READY TO BE RE-OPENED,

BUT WE DON'T HAVE ANY TIMEFRAME ON THAT RIGHT NOW,

AS TO WHEN THAT WILL OCCUR.

[NARRATOR]: LATE LAST NIGHT,

A TANKER LOADED WITH JET FUEL

SWERVED TO AVOID A STALLED CAR...

FLIPPING AND SLIDING OVER A HUNDRED METRES.

BOTH DRIVERS ESCAPED UNHARMED,

BUT JUST FINDING A COMPANY ABLE TO CLEAN UP THE JET FUEL

TOOK TIME.

NINE HOURS AFTER THE CRASH,

THEY'VE MADE ENOUGH HEADWAY TO GREENLIGHT THE RECOVERY.

NOW IT'S TIME FOR MIKE ROSS AND CREW

TO GET STARTED.

I GOT RICK WITH THE 50-TON COMING DOWN.

JAMIE'S COMING ALONG TO HELP US DO SOME RIGGING.

THERE IS PRODUCT ALL OVER THE ROADWAY.

[RICK RENDERS]: WE DON'T GO ON SCENE

UNTIL THE CREW THAT'S THERE GIVES US PERMISSION.

IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

[NARRATOR]: RICK "BEAR" RENDERS

HAS BEEN WORKING THIS HIGHWAY FOR THREE DECADES.

FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND,

DRIVER DAVE JONES.

[DAVE JONES]: WE'RE UNDER PRESSURE

TO GET DOWN THERE AS QUICK AS WE CAN,

ASSESS THE DAMAGE,

AND, UH, START GETTING THIS CLEANED UP.

[BEAR]: WHEN WE PULL UP...

ISN'T THAT NICE?

[BEAR]: ...THE SMELL IS JUST...

I'VE NEVER SMELLED JET FUEL BEFORE, BUT IT STUNK.

WE GOT A BIG ONE HERE.

THE FUEL, WHEN IT CAME OUT OF THE TANK,

WENT SIX LANES WIDE,

THEN THE DITCHES.

IT'S NOT AS FLAMMABLE AS GAS,

BUT JET FUEL IS VERY VOLATILE TO YOUR SKIN,

YOUR EYES, YOUR HANDS,

EVERYTHING.

[DAVE]: THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

IT'S ALL OVER THE 401.

TRUCK'S ON ITS SIDE.

[NARRATOR]: TWO WESTBOUND LANES ARE NOW OPEN.

BUT ON THE EASTBOUND SIDE...

THE CREW IS STILL PUMPING OUT THE REMAINING FUEL.

THEY'RE OFFLOADING IT FROM HERE,

THEY'RE PUTTING IT INTO THIS TANKER.

[NARRATOR]: THE ROSS CREW WILL BE READY

THE MINUTE THE TANKER IS EMPTY...

[BEAR]: WE HAVE TO GET THIS THING

ON ITS WHEELS AND OUT OF HERE

AS QUICK AND SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

IS THIS SIDE OKAY, DID YOU LOOK?

[NARRATOR]: ...BECAUSE ALMOST 15 EASTBOUND KILOMETRES

OF THE 401

ARE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN.

WHERE'S THAT STRAP?

TRAFFIC NEEDS TO GET MOVING AGAIN.

IT'S CRITICAL WE GET THIS HIGHWAY OPENED.

[NARRATOR]: ON THE EASTBOUND 401 NEAR GUELPH...

[NARRATOR]: ...THE ROSS CREW FINALLY HAS THE GO-AHEAD

TO BEGIN THEIR RECOVERY.

[TRAFFIC NEWS RADIO]: THEY'RE TRYING TO GET

THE ROLLED-OVER TANKER

BACK ONTO ITS WHEELS.

NO ESTIMATED TIME ON RE-OPENING...

[BEAR]: THE TRAFFIC IS BACKED UP ALMOST 20 KILOMETRES.

IT'S THAT BAD.

PULL ON YOUR LEFT CABLE, PLEASE.

I'VE GOT A LONGER STRAP.

[MIKE ROSS]: WELL, WE'RE GONNA PUT A COUPLE LINES ON IT

TO ROLL IT,

A COUPLE LINES ON IT TO CATCH IT.

[NARRATOR]: WITH BEAR ON THE FRONT,

MIKE'S ROTATOR WILL USE TWO PULL LINES

AND TWO CATCH LINES

TO EASE THE TANKER OVER.

[MIKE]: OKAY,

HOOK 'ER INTO MY OTHER LINE THERE.

WHERE ARE YOU, BIG DADDY?

RIGHT HERE!

[NARRATOR]: FOR DAVE,

TODAY IS THE FIRST HEAVY RECOVERY

SINCE SUFFERING A MAJOR HEALTH SCARE.

HANG ON, HANG ON.

[DAVE]: I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD,

AND FELT REALLY BAD CHEST PAINS, AND, UH...

LIKE, BLADES GOING INTO MY LEFT SHOULDER,

AND THEN MY ARM COLLAPSED OFF THE WHEEL.

FOUND OUT MY MAIN ARTERY WAS 90% BLOCKED,

AND THEY HAD TO PUT A STENT IN.

THE HEART ATTACK WAS A HUGE WAKE-UP CALL

FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

THIS ONE'S STILL QUITE SLACK, MIKE!

[DAVE]: I WAS AT HOME FOR TWO WEEKS,

YOU KNOW, SITTING AROUND.

YOU CAN ONLY WATCH "DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER"

FOR SO MANY EPISODES

BEFORE YOU END UP GOING CRAZY.

I'M BEHIND YA.

[DAVE]: I'M REALLY GLAD TO BE BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN.

IS THIS THING EMPTY NOW?

JUST WHATEVER YOU CAN SEE IN THE BACK HOLE HERE.

[BEAR]: THE CLEAN-UP CREW HAS NOT GOT ALL THE FUEL

OUT OF THE TANKER.

MOST OF IT, BUT NOT ALL OF IT.

WELL, WE'RE JUST WAITING TO MOVE SOME TRUCKS HERE

OUT OF THE WAY,

AND WE CAN UPRIGHT THIS THING.

I BELIEVE IT'S GO TIME TO ROLL THIS OVER.

[NARRATOR]: AND ONCE IT'S UPRIGHT,

THAT REMAINING FUEL COULD START SPEWING THROUGH THE RUPTURE...

IT'S GO TIME.

[NARRATOR]: ...SO THE SPILL CREW

WILL STAY ON HIGH ALERT.

KEEP 'ER GOING.

[BEAR]: IT'S GONNA COME, MICHAEL,

IT'S GONNA COME HARD.

LITTLE MORE!

[CREAKING]

LOOK OUT!

YOU GOT IT.

[BEAR]: AS WE BRING IT OVER, AND IT LANDS ON THE GROUND,

THERE'S FUEL POURING EVERYWHERE.

[DAVE]: WHERE'S THAT COMING FROM?

[BEAR]: SOMETHING'S LEAKING,

AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

[NARRATOR]: AND THERE'S A SECOND LEAK

AT THE BACK END.

GRAB ME SOME ABSORBENTS!

GET US A VAC PACK HERE.

HERE'S MORE PADS, HERE!

[NARRATOR]: ENVIRONMENTAL CREW MEMBERS

CRAWL UNDERNEATH

TO FIND AND ASSESS THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK.

WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE ANYTIME SOON.

THIS HIGHWAY'S GOTTA STAY CLOSED

UNTIL THIS IS DONE DRIPPING.

-SEE THE HOLE? -WOW.

CAREFUL.

[GROANS] AH!

[DAVE]: ALL OF A SUDDEN,

FUEL DUMPS OUT ON THE FELLOW UNDERNEATH THE TRAILER.

DID YOU GET IT IN YOUR EYES?

GRAB A BOTTLE, GRAB YOUR WATER.

[BEAR]: JET FUEL IS VERY DANGEROUS.

IF YOU GET THIS STUFF IN YOUR EYES,

YOU CAN GO BLIND.

HEADS UP, HEADS UP.

IT'S THE LAST THING THAT WE WANTED TO HAPPEN.

[TRUCKER RADIO]: THEY GOT A CLEAN-UP JOB.

[NARRATOR]: ON THE 401,

TRAFFIC IS BACKING UP FOR OVER 20 KILOMETRES...

GET US A VAC PACK HERE.

-[GROANS] AH! -WHOA!

GET BACK, EVERYBODY.

[NARRATOR]: ...BUT THE RECOVERY...

I'M ALREADY COVERED, THIS IS NOT GOOD.

GRAB A BOTTLE, GRAB YOUR WATER.

[NARRATOR]: ...IS ON HOLD.

HEADS UP, HEADS UP.

DID YOU GET IT IN YOUR EYES?

IT'S THE LAST THING WE WANTED TO HAPPEN.

IT'S PRETTY NASTY STUFF TO GET ALL OVER YOU.

[DAVE]: I DON'T KNOW HOW BAD, OR HOW MUCH FUEL THIS GUY HAS.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GOT ANY OF IT IN HIS EYES.

HERE, I'M GONNA WIPE.

THERE'S A HOLE AT THE BACK THERE

THAT WAS HIDING A LITTLE BIT OF FUEL I GUESS.

THE REST OF THE JET FUEL THAT WAS IN THE BAFFLE LET GO,

WENT ALL OVER HIS FACE.

[DAVE]: WHEN YOU GET FUEL IN YOUR FACE,

THE BEST THING TO DO

IS JUST TO KEEP FLUSHING YOUR FACE OUT WITH WATER.

DO YOU FEEL ANY GRITTINESS

OR ANY IRRITATION THERE?

NOTHING AT ALL.

THERE'S A LITTLE REDNESS, BUT NOT BAD.

[DAVE]: THIS GUY'S EXTREMELY LUCKY,

BECAUSE, I MEAN,

THAT WAS A LOT OF FUEL THAT DUMPED ON HIM.

IF YOU START FEELING ANY BURNING AFTERWARDS,

SEE A DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY.

I WILL. I'M FINE.

THANKS.

I'M GOOD, ACTUALLY.

[DAVE]: THIS TRAILER HAS GOT MORE SURPRISES

THAN DAVID COPPERFIELD.

WE DON'T NEED ANY MORE COMPLICATIONS

ON THIS HIGHWAY.

WE NEED TO GET IT OPEN AND GET THINGS MOVING.

[MIKE]: YEAH, CAN YOU PUT YOUR HOSE

ON EVERY ONE OF THOSE LITTLE VENTS, TOO.

[NARRATOR]: NOW THE HAZMAT CREW

CAN PUMP OUT THE LAST DROPS OF FUEL...

-YOU READY TO MOVE, RICK? -YEAH!

[NARRATOR]: ...AND THE ROSS CREW

CAN FINISH THE JOB.

WE'RE GONNA SEPARATE 'EM NOW.

WE'VE GOT ANOTHER TRACTOR HERE TO TAKE THE TRAILER.

[HONKS HORN]

[MIKE]: LOOKS LIKE IT'S DONE DRIPPING.

WE'LL GET IT OUT OF HERE IF WE CAN.

[DAVE]: I THINK THIS IS

THE OFFICIAL WORD

ON WHETHER OR NOT I'M ABLE TO MOVE.

THINK WE CAN GO?

]DAVE]: ALL THE LEAKS HAVE BEEN PATCHED.

I'M HOOKED UP, I'M READY TO GO HOME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, GUYS,

FOR ALL YOUR HELP.

ALL RIGHT, THANKS.

GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. SEE YOU AGAIN.

OKAY, WE'LL GET OUT OF HERE.

YEAH, IT WAS A RELIEF TO GET EVERYTHING ON THE HOOK,

AND TO HEAD HOME.

THANK YOU, BROTHER.

HAVE A GOOD DAY. YEAH.

I'M SO PROUD OF THE ROSS TEAM.

WE DID AN AWESOME JOB.

WHOO-HOO!

THIS IS ONE OF THE MESSIEST WRECKS I'VE SEEN.

[HONKS HORN]

IT'S TIME TO GO HOME, IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.

[DAVE]: FOR ME TO COME OUT AND DO THIS...

I ENJOY DOING IT,

AND IT'S A GREAT FEELING WHEN IT'S ALL DONE.

[NARRATOR]: THE COMPLETE FUEL CLEAN-UP

WILL TAKE WEEKS...

THE HIGHWAY SHOULD BE OPEN,

HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT HOUR.

[NARRATOR]: ...BUT AFTER 17 HOURS,

TORONTO-BOUND TRAFFIC CAN GET ROLLING AGAIN.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

[NARRATOR]: NEXT TIME ON HEAVY RESCUE: 401...

SHE'LL BE A HELL OF A PULL.

[NARRATOR]: ...A SWAMPY WRECK...

FIRST RECOVERY, AND I'M A LITTLE NERVOUS.

I'M NOT GONNA LIE.

[NARRATOR]: ...GIVES A ROOKIE HIS SHOT.

[ANDREW VINK]: OKAY, BOTH EQUAL!

THESE ROADS ARE FRICKIN' ICE.

-[HORN BLARING] -[NARRATOR]: GARY AND COLLIN...

WATCH YOURSELF.

[NARRATOR]: ...RUN INTO TROUBLE...

GET OUT OF THAT LANE NOW!

-[SIREN WAILING] - WOW. LOOK AT THIS.

[NARRATOR]: ...AND A TANKER SPILL...

MY NERVES ARE A LITTLE ON EDGE.

[NARRATOR]: ...PUTS THE WEIGHT ON MITCH.

[METAL CREAKING]

[♪♪♪]