Fact Check: Drone spotted the girl near Highway 417.

Fact Check: Drone spotted the girl near Highway 417.

Published June 20, 2025
VERDICT
True

# Fact Check: "Drone spotted the girl near Highway 417." ## What We Know A three-year-old girl named Claire Bell, who had been missing for four days,...

Fact Check: "Drone spotted the girl near Highway 417."

What We Know

A three-year-old girl named Claire Bell, who had been missing for four days, was found alive in Ontario, Canada. According to multiple reports, she was located by an Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) drone on the side of Highway 417 in the St. Albert region shortly after 2 p.m. on Wednesday (Global News, CTV News, CBC). The search for Claire involved extensive efforts from various police forces and over 250 volunteers, utilizing helicopters, tracking dogs, and drones to locate her (Global News, CBC).

Claire was reported missing after her mother, Rachel-Ella Todd, claimed she could not find her daughter while shopping in Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec. Following the discovery, Todd was arrested and charged with unlawful abandonment of a child (CTV News, National Post).

Analysis

The claim that a drone spotted the girl near Highway 417 is supported by multiple credible sources. The Ontario Provincial Police confirmed that the drone was instrumental in locating Claire Bell, as stated by Quebec provincial police Sgt. Éloïse Cossette and OPP Acting Staff Sergeant Shaun Cameron during a press conference (Global News, CBC).

The reliability of these sources is high, as they include official statements from law enforcement agencies involved in the search. Both the OPP and the Sûreté du Québec (SQ) have a vested interest in accurately reporting the details of the case, especially given the sensitive nature of a missing child investigation. Furthermore, the corroboration of facts across different news outlets such as CTV News and the CBC adds to the credibility of the information.

While some reports noted slight discrepancies in the timing of the sighting (with some stating it occurred around 3 p.m. instead of 2 p.m.) (Yahoo News), the core fact remains unchanged: a drone was indeed responsible for spotting the girl.

Conclusion

The claim that a drone spotted the girl near Highway 417 is True. Multiple credible sources confirm that the Ontario Provincial Police utilized a drone in the successful search for Claire Bell, leading to her safe recovery. The consistency of the reports from various reputable news outlets and official police statements supports this conclusion.

Sources

  1. 'Every hour mattered': Missing 3-year-old Quebec child found alive ... Global News
  2. Claire Bell: Montreal toddler found alive in Ontario, police say - CTV News CTV News
  3. Drone 和 UAV 有什么区别? - 知乎 Zhihu
  4. Quebec toddler found alive and well after intensive 4-day search ... CBC
  5. Quebec girl, 3, found after disappearance led to charge against mother ... National Post
  6. 请评价一下MDPI旗下的期刊质量如何? - 知乎 Zhihu
  7. Missing 3-year-old Quebec child found alive, spotted by drone in Ontario Yahoo News
  8. 如何评价大疆创新 (DJI) 收购哈苏 (Hasselblad)? - 知乎 Zhihu

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