Icy road conditions were being blamed for a five-vehicle collision involving a dump truck, just before 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
Emergency vehicles responded to the scene at Queensway near Vanier Parkway to find four cars and a dump truck had been tangled in the crash in the eastbound lanes.
No serious injuries were reported.
The scene was blocked off for about 30 minutes.
OPP in Drummond Centre, about 45 minutes southwest of Ottawa, are blaming weather conditions for a serious head-on collision at the intersection of Highway 7 and Drummond Concession 7 at about 7:25 a.m.
Reports from the scene indicate one person had to be extricated from a vehicle and two men and a woman were taken to hospital in Ottawa with “major injuries.”
Highway 7 was reopened at about 10 a.m.
As of about 2:30 p.m. Ottawa police reported they had responded to 72 collisions since 5 a.m. There were no reports of serious injury.
72 collisions have been reported since 5 am, so drive carefully.
Do you know what to do in the event of a collision? https://t.co/e3v1MWw6xa
72 collisions signalées depuis 5h, soyez donc prudent.
Savez-vous quoi faire en cas de collision? https://t.co/crRw6lEAyO pic.twitter.com/IzlqFUrxn7
— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) April 9, 2019
Meanwhile, a water main break near the airport has forced the closing of Silver Star Private and Tracker Private, two roads that run adjacent to the parkway. The Ottawa Airport Authority is warning travellers to avoid the area and take Uplands Drive or the Airport Parkway.
Tracker Private and Silver Star Private are closed due to a water main break. Please use Uplands Drive and Airport Parkway to get to the airport until further notice. #OttNews #YOW #OttCity pic.twitter.com/SB3gkL3CGB
— Ottawa Airport (@FlyYOW) April 9, 2019
OPP reported a host of smaller collisions in their territory as the morning rush-hour got underway.
Screen shot of just a smattering of what our officers are busy with this morning. Proactive and reactive traffic response to slippery conditions. #rushhourdrama pic.twitter.com/r1yRMO7KHt
— OPS Duty Inspector (@DutyInspector) April 9, 2019
Ottawa police reported similar conditions, although there were no major collisions.
We are getting reports of slippery conditions on the roads this morning. We are seeing vehicles veering off roads, roll-overs and fender benders.
Drive according to the road conditions and leave yourself extra distance to stop safely. #otttraffic
— Ottawa Police (@OttawaPolice) April 9, 2019
Paramedics also reported greasy conditions and multiple collisions.
MVC Boundary Rd south of Parkway. Pickup truck recovered from a water filled ditch. Alert contractors used a ladder to gain access.
Please use “crash”, “collision”, “wreck”. No such thing as an “accident” As it implies an act of fate and removes responsibility. @OttTraffic pic.twitter.com/szmEihaxyP
— OttawaParamedics.ca (@Ottawa_9_1_1) April 9, 2019
In the Outaouais, greasy conditions on the windswept Highway 50 led to a number of morning slides into the ditch although, again, few injuries were reported.
St-Joseph & Duford. Bus blocking entire access to intersection. #otttraffic pic.twitter.com/XMrkB5JqbE
— Kim Beaudry (@KimMB74) April 9, 2019
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement early Tuesday morning warning commuters to slow down as ice rain and ice pellets were expected to be falling through much of the morning commute.
Source: Ottawa Sun