A 77-year-old man from Mississauga was killed early Saturday morning after being struck by a vehicle on Highway 401 near Pearson Airport.
The incident occurred just after 5 a.m. near Dixon Road, according to OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt. Police say the man had exited his SUV following an earlier collision when he was hit by a passing vehicle. Tragically, he was pronounced dead in the hospital shortly after the crash.
Two other individuals involved in the earlier collision were also taken to the hospital, though their conditions remain unknown. Schmidt described the situation as “absolutely tragic” and urged drivers to avoid exiting their vehicles on major highways, even in the event of an accident, as it can be extremely dangerous.
At the time of the incident, the eastbound lanes of Highway 401 were closed near Highway 427 for several hours, causing significant delays. The lanes were reopened by around noon, but investigators from the OPP’s Collision Reconstruction Team remained on scene to piece together the events leading up to the crash.
Schmidt reiterated the dangers of being a pedestrian on a live highway, stressing that if your vehicle breaks down, it’s critical to stay inside or move to a safe location off the road. Police are asking anyone with information or video footage to come forward.