Ontario (Gaganjot Singh): Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say as many as 50 vehicles were involved in multiple collisions on Highway 401 in eastern Ontario on Tuesday amid dangerous winter weather conditions.
A snow squall warning remains in effect for the region, with blowing snow and near-zero visibility expected at times. The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) reported snow-covered lanes and significantly reduced visibility along Highway 401 between Quinte West and Napanee.
As a result of the collisions, the MTO said eastbound lanes of Highway 401 were closed at County Road 30 in Brighton, west of Trenton, while westbound lanes were shut down at Wallbridge Loyalist Road in Belleville.
Police confirmed that both serious and minor injuries were reported in crashes occurring between Brighton and Shannonville Tuesday morning, though the exact number of injured individuals was not immediately released.
Shortly after noon, OPP said drivable vehicles were beginning to be removed from the westbound lanes, with tow trucks positioned throughout the area to assist with recovery efforts.
Emergency responders were deployed to check each stranded vehicle to ensure the safety of those trapped on the highway. Earlier in the morning, police said buses were arranged to transport stranded motorists to the Trenton Arena, where a warming centre had been established.
“Expect a prolonged closure, as investigation and clean-up efforts continue,” OPP said in a social media post, adding that officers were working with local communities to assist affected motorists and ensure public safety.
The incident comes just one day after a major winter storm caused more than 100 collisions across eastern Ontario, according to police.
Environment Canada reported that Belleville received about 35 centimetres of snow on Monday. The ongoing snow squall warning is forecasting an additional 5 to 10 centimetres of snowfall on Tuesday.
