Barrie Driver, 45, Charged After Pickup Overloaded With Cement Bags Stopped

A 45-year-old man has been charged under Ontario's Highway Traffic Act after Barrie police stopped his pickup truck on Blake Street on Oct. 27, 2026. Police said the truck was carrying an extremely heavy load of cement bags in its bed.

Spotted by an off-duty officer

According to the Barrie Police Service, an off-duty officer noticed the pickup as it headed toward the city's downtown. Police said the weight of the load made it hard for the truck to stay in its lane.

The load also caused the rear tires to bulge considerably, and the sidewalls of the tires were rubbing on the pavement, police said.

Traffic stop on Blake Street

Officers pulled the truck over on Blake Street shortly after 11 a.m. and spoke with the driver about their concern that the tires could blow out.

Because the driver was only minutes away from his destination, police said officers safely escorted the vehicle the rest of the way.

Charges

The 45-year-old driver was charged under the Highway Traffic Act with:

• Operate unsafe vehicle
• Improper tires

Police reminder

Barrie police are reminding drivers to know their vehicle's limits before hauling a load. Police said an overloaded vehicle can affect steering, handling and braking, and puts everyone sharing the road at risk.

The police file number for this incident is BA26068436.

For broader context, Barrie's Crime Severity Index was 46.93 in 2025, down 2.82% from the previous year, and its Violent Crime Severity Index was 55.88, according to Statistics Canada.