Fiery Fatal Truck Crash Shut Down Highway 401
A truck driver lost his life in a fiery wreck on Canada’s busiest highway this morning.
Two Truck Crash Kills One
The crash occurred around 5 a.m. on Highway 401 near Avenue Road in Toronto. When crews arrived on the scene of the two semi truck crash, one of the trucks was entirely engulfed by flames.
UPDATED: One dead after truck fire on Highway 401 at Avenue Roadhttps://t.co/1NsbSKvnzi pic.twitter.com/ueoq4vsXlo
— TorontoNews (@torontonews3) July 31, 2017
According to Ontario Provincial Police, a truck that was transporting paint thinner and other flammable materials was parked on the shoulder of the eastbound lanes of Highway 401 when it was struck from behind by a flatbed truck hauling chalk.
After rear ending the parked truck, the flatbed collided with a guardrail and caught fire. The chalk spilled out onto both the eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 401.
One person is dead after a truck collision with fire on Hwy 401 at Avenue Rd. this morning. https://t.co/jrZDvS0YgM #Toronto
— Toronto Firefighters (@TPFFA) July 31, 2017
One person was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported.
The crash forced transportation officials to shut down all of the eastbound express and collector lanes and some of the westbound lanes, causing huge backups during the morning rush hour. Many of the lanes have reopened, but traffic is moving very slowly through the area. It isn’t clear when all lanes of the highway will fully reopen.
According to Toronto Fire Captain David Eckerman, “The highway will have to be cleaned by the (Ministry of Transportation). So it is going to be pretty extensive and I don’t think it will be fully open for some time.”
If you are currently stuck on Hwy 401 express lanes please be patient. You are one of thousands. OPP will clear backup as soon as they can. pic.twitter.com/StiwVAgY8o
— Tony Smyth (@LateNightCam) July 31, 2017