One westbound lane of the highway has reopened, OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt
Scenes from the crash scene on Highway 401 early Wednesday - Kerry Schmidt, OPP Twitter
The crash, which involved a vehicle containing two passengers at a transport truck, took place just after 5 a.m. near Highway 6, said OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt.
“We’re not sure at this point whether or not the occupants were in the vehicle or standing outside the vehicle,” Schmidt said in a Twitter update. “It appears that the vehicle was stopped — possibly disabled — on the right lane of the 401 westbound before it was struck.”
Update, #Hwy401 WB at Hwy6,2 left lanes will remain closed for repaving, one right lane to be opened shortly https://t.co/Y9sQwZEGUT
— Sgt Kerry Schmidt (@OPP_HSD) October 11, 2017
While one person was sent to hospital with what was originally believed to be critical injuries, Schmidt later clarified the people involved suffered minor injuries only.
Schmidt said the truck caught fire after the crash, melting a portion of the road that now requires resurfacing.
As a result, the left lanes of the westbound highway are expected to remain closed for most of the afternoon while this work is done, he said.
The collision destroyed the truck’s saddle tanks, causing diesel fuel to spill across the highway, he said. Crews are putting sand on the highway to absorb some of the diesel.
#Hwy401 WB at #Hwy6 is closed due to collision. One person to hospital with life threatening injuries. A fire destroyed the CMV. 3-4 hours pic.twitter.com/Ecum3eTCDB
— Sgt Kerry Schmidt (@OPP_HSD) October 11, 2017
Source: The Hamilton Spectator