Multiple people were killed in a fiery crash on Highway 401 in Southwold Township on Tuesday afternoon after a transport truck struck a passenger vehicle, Ontario Provincial Police say.
The fatal collision occurred shortly after 4 p.m. in the highway’s eastbound lanes. According to police, the passenger vehicle had been stopped in traffic. An earlier three-vehicle crash was reported around 2:15 p.m. near Colonel Talbot Road.
A transport truck subsequently slammed into the rear of the stationary vehicle, causing it to catch fire. Multiple fatalities were reported following the collision. One truck driver escaped without injuries, while the other was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Highway 401 was closed approximately 11 hours between Colonel Talbot Road and Iona Road as emergency crews responded and investigators examined the scene.
The circumstances surrounding the fatal crash remain under investigation.
Update – Ontario Provincial Police confirmed that three people were killed in the fiery collision.