Donald Powell was driving home to the city from his Mountain Lake cottage Oct. 15, 2025, when he came upon a three-pickup collision near Miner’s Bay. It must have just happened as there were no emergency services on site. Being well-trained in first aid as a 33-year volunteer ski patroller, he stopped.
“I did what’s called a triage. I went to visit everybody; see who needed help, or what help they needed, and then treated it,” he said in an interview with The Highlander.
Powell said a husband and wife in the first vehicle he dealt with were fine, although their truck was not. He checked on a second vehicle and its male occupant had bloody hands but was doing OK.
With the third vehicle, “another gentleman obviously had been hit head on and the whole dash was on his lap. He was pinned in there. He couldn’t get out.” However, Powell said the man was “actually in amazing condition.” The two called the man’s wife from a cell phone to let her know he had been in a crash but was OK.
“He did amazing considering the injuries and the state of the incident itself,”
Powell said. Powell stayed with the man while also making sure the scene was safe. For example, there were some hot fluids leaking out from the engine and he made sure it was coolant, not combustible. “The last thing you want is a pinned person with a fire.”
He waited for EMS to arrive and, “I just handed it over.” The man was airlifted to a trauma centre for life-saving treatment.
Powell said thanks to his lengthy ski patrol experience, he was prepared mentally and had a first aid kit in his car.
He said, “I have brought people back from death. I do it because I like helping people. When they are in need, it’s just even better.”
Powell concedes many people would not stop, get out of their vehicle, and rush in to help. They’d be more likely to call 911 from the sidelines.
He said he was grateful to receive an OPP Commissioner’s Citation for Lifesaving recently for his action but downplayed it.
The citation reads, “Donald drew upon his first aid training and used his own supplies to provide critical care to the injured man while keeping bystanders calm. He assumed a leadership role at the scene, continued administering first aid until emergency medical services arrived, and then assisted first responders with the man’s care.”
Powell said the award ceremony was “amazing. I cannot believe I was part of that. They were in full-dress uniforms. They had a bagpiper pipe them in. They had a colour guard. They had a native elder come in and talk to us. It was so professional and well done. There were true OPP heroes there, that dove into water to rescue a woman after a vehicle [went in]. I was in shock how powerful these people are, and the brave things they did, and somehow, they included me in that. I’m really, truly honoured to have been part of that.”
Haliburton Highlands OPP detachment commander, Deb McClure said, “many people would have called for help and waited. Mr. Powell instead chose to step forward, using his training, experience, and compassion to provide critical care and reassurance during a chaotic and stressful situation. His selfless actions, calm leadership, and willingness to help a complete stranger exemplify the very best of our community and are truly deserving of recognition.”
