A major section of Highway 401 in eastern Ontario has been shut down due to multiple collisions involving numerous vehicles, as confirmed by the local police.
The closure affects the westbound lanes of Highway 401 at St. Hillaire Road in Trenton, with numerous incidents reported in the vicinity between Glen Miller and Wallbridge Loyalist roads near Belleville. While the extent of injuries is still being evaluated, authorities have estimated that approximately 50 vehicles have been caught up in the accidents.
This segment of the highway is currently covered in snow following a recent winter storm that swept through the region, depositing around 35 centimetres of snow in the Belleville, Ont. area on Sunday evening.
Drivers are being diverted off the highway at Wallbridge Road, although the process seems to be slow-moving based on traffic camera footage. Meanwhile, buses are being deployed to assist stranded motorists, ferrying them to the Trenton Arena. Tow trucks are also on standby to clear drivable vehicles from the affected lanes.
As of the latest 12:12 p.m. update from the police, a prolonged closure is anticipated, with efforts underway to expedite the reopening of the highway.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) acknowledge the inconvenience caused by prolonged closures, with their teams focused on restoring normal traffic flow as quickly as possible.
This situation comes on the heels of another recent highway closure following a snowstorm earlier in the month. On January 15, adverse weather conditions led to two serious crashes on Highway 401 between Lansdowne and Mallorytown. Approximately 20 vehicles were involved, resulting in a significant traffic backlog and multiple drivers stranded in the aftermath. Emergency services responded to transport injured individuals, including a child with serious injuries, to hospital.
The authorities have not provided specific figures regarding the total number of individuals requiring medical attention during the January incident.