401 re-opened near Brighton, still jammed up near Port Hope
Published Friday, January 24, two thousand fourteen 12:32PM EST
Last Updated Friday, January 24, two thousand fourteen 6:06PM EST
Treacherous driving conditions resulted in a series of collisions on Highway 401, including a number of jackknifed trucks that temporarily closed the eastbound lanes at the Brighton, Ont. exit.
After several hours of blockages and detours, parts of Highway four hundred one eastbound have re-opened, Northumberland County officials say.
Ontario Provincial Police said they have opened the lanes from County Road thirty in Brighton to Division Street in Cobourg. All eastbound lanes at County Road twenty eight in Port Hope are still closed as reconstruction officers finish an investigation into a single car crash that happened earlier in the day.
Northumberland Paramedics said most of the injuries sustained in the crashes were not serious.
“Mostly bumps and welts, gratefully,” said EMS Chief Tarmo Uukkivi.
However, further west along the highway, near Port Hope, one person suffered critical injuries when a truck lost control and smashed into a guard rail.
Police shut down the highway in both directions due to weather-related collisions, including one which involved at least twenty five vehicles, just before noon on Friday. The westbound lanes were re-opened earlier this afternoon.
An aerial view of the multi-vehicle pileup display a number of transport trucks involved in the collision. OPP Sgt. Peter Leon says six people were injured in the collision and are being treated for minor injuries.
Police say the series of crashes occurred during white-out conditions.
"Once again a little snowfall, windy conditions and black ice has resulted in dozens of collisions and vehicles in the ditch today along spreads of Highway four hundred one inbetween Brighton and Port Hope," OPP said in a statement.
Environment Canada has issued a snow squall warning for the Trenton area. Some drivers are reporting they have been stuck in traffic for as long as forty minutes.
Uukkivi said drivers should be very cautions, go slow and leave lots of space inbetween vehicles.
With a report from CTV Toronto’s Tamara Cherry
Parked for forty minutes. #401 hoping that everyone is ok, but also that we get moving soon.
Thought I was gonna die as tractor trailer jack knifed right behind us. Glad I’m still here to tweet it. pic.twitter.com/bVLXU61MLs
Stuck on the four hundred one haven’t moved! !! Bad weather means drive extra safe ppl.
The OPP says at least seven tractor trailers have jackknifed after the series of crashes on the eastbound 401.
With files from The Canadian Press
Photos
A smashed vehicle is loaded on to a tow truck following a multi-vehicle pile-up on Highway four hundred one near Brighton, Ont. on Friday, Jan. 24, 2014.
A smashed transport truck blocks traffic on the four hundred one near Brighton, Ont. on Friday, Jan. 24, 2014.
An aerial view of transports truck scattered along Highway four hundred one near Brighton, Ont. on Friday, Jan. 24, 2014.