- Reaction score
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CBC NEWS
Several hurt in multi-vehicle crashes on Ontario highway
Chain-reaction accidents north of Toronto blamed on whiteout conditions
Last Updated: Sunday, January 20, 2008 | 2:13 PM ET
CBC News
A number of people were injured Sunday in chain-reaction collisions involving dozens of vehicles on a major highway about 60 kilometres north of Toronto.
A half-kilometre stretch of the northbound lanes of Highway 400 near Bradford was littered with the wreckage of about 50 cars and trucks, Ontario Provincial Police said. About 30 vehicles were in another pileup north of that location, police said.
"It's like a scrap yard out here — vehicles everywhere, some in the ditch. It's unbelievable," OPP Const. Dave Woodford told CBC Newsworld.
There were "multiple injuries," some serious, but none considered life-threatening, he said.
"We have neck and back injuries, he said. "We have people with broken arms, broken legs. There are serious injuries to a lot of people."
Two air ambulances and a bus ambulance were among emergency vehicles that were dispatched to help the injured. There is no word on how many people were hurt.
The accidents occurred just after 12:30 p.m. ET in whiteout conditions.
"It was nice and sunny out and suddenly you couldn't see 100 feet in front of you," Woodford said. The snowsquall had come in. You drive into something like and it's blinding."
Rescue crews started cutting the centre guard rail to allow emergency vehicles through and to turn around traffic stuck on the closed highway.
Both southbound and northbound portions of the highway north of Highway 89 were closed.
CTV NEWS
Hwy. 400 closed after 50-car crash in Bradford, Ont.
Updated Sun. Jan. 20 2008 3:24 PM ET
Toronto.ctv.ca
A major pile-up involving about 50 cars has shut down a long stretch of Highway 400 in Bradford, Ont.
White-out conditions and snow-covered roads are being blamed for several crashes that closed both north and southbound lanes of the highway early Sunday afternoon.
The massive pile-up happened in the southbound lanes over the lunch hour.
The scene looks like a "scrapyard," OPP Const. Dave Woodford told CTV.ca.
"I was at home at the time when the snow squalls started and I couldn't see out the window," Woodford said. "People start on their brakes, they slide out of control and the vehicles behind them can't see what's happening so they start doing the same thing. It's a chain reaction.
"It's a sheet of ice out here," he said.
Several people were stuck in the wreckage and had to be rescued. Though several people suffered back and neck sprains and broken limbs, none of the injuries were life-threatening.
An air ambulance was called to the scene as a precautionary measure, Woodford said. About two dozen other EMS vehicles from as far as Toronto were at the scene, treating the injured.
Motorists forced out of their cars because of the accident had to deal with bone-chilling temperatures. People were allowed to sit in police cruisers to keep warm. Others bundled up with other motorists whose cars were still running, Woodford said.
A Greyhound bus was also brought in to help shelter people left stranded.
The highway is expected to remain closed at Highway 89 to Highway 9 until at least the dinner hour while police investigate and clear the scene.
In the meantime, fire crews cut apart the centre median to allow drivers stuck in the traffic jam to turn around and head back north.
Several other accidents were reported along Highway 404 south of the massive pile-up as snow continued to fall in the area.
Motorists travelling in the Barrie to York Region area are being warned to drive with extreme caution.
"White-out conditions tend to come in fast and leave fast," Woodford said. "Drivers should pull off the road completely, not on the shoulder but get off the highway."
He said motorists would be wise to completely avoid the highway for the rest of the day.
An aerial view shows the scope of a fifty car pile up in Bradford, Ontario on Highway 400 on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008.
Emergency workers and tow trucks prepare to clean up after a fifty car pile up (unseen) in Bradford, Ontario on Highway 400 on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008
(Moderator edit to change thread title from "BREAKING NEWS" to insertion of event date.)
Several hurt in multi-vehicle crashes on Ontario highway
Chain-reaction accidents north of Toronto blamed on whiteout conditions
Last Updated: Sunday, January 20, 2008 | 2:13 PM ET
CBC News
A number of people were injured Sunday in chain-reaction collisions involving dozens of vehicles on a major highway about 60 kilometres north of Toronto.
A half-kilometre stretch of the northbound lanes of Highway 400 near Bradford was littered with the wreckage of about 50 cars and trucks, Ontario Provincial Police said. About 30 vehicles were in another pileup north of that location, police said.
"It's like a scrap yard out here — vehicles everywhere, some in the ditch. It's unbelievable," OPP Const. Dave Woodford told CBC Newsworld.
There were "multiple injuries," some serious, but none considered life-threatening, he said.
"We have neck and back injuries, he said. "We have people with broken arms, broken legs. There are serious injuries to a lot of people."
Two air ambulances and a bus ambulance were among emergency vehicles that were dispatched to help the injured. There is no word on how many people were hurt.
The accidents occurred just after 12:30 p.m. ET in whiteout conditions.
"It was nice and sunny out and suddenly you couldn't see 100 feet in front of you," Woodford said. The snowsquall had come in. You drive into something like and it's blinding."
Rescue crews started cutting the centre guard rail to allow emergency vehicles through and to turn around traffic stuck on the closed highway.
Both southbound and northbound portions of the highway north of Highway 89 were closed.
CTV NEWS
Hwy. 400 closed after 50-car crash in Bradford, Ont.
Updated Sun. Jan. 20 2008 3:24 PM ET
Toronto.ctv.ca
A major pile-up involving about 50 cars has shut down a long stretch of Highway 400 in Bradford, Ont.
White-out conditions and snow-covered roads are being blamed for several crashes that closed both north and southbound lanes of the highway early Sunday afternoon.
The massive pile-up happened in the southbound lanes over the lunch hour.
The scene looks like a "scrapyard," OPP Const. Dave Woodford told CTV.ca.
"I was at home at the time when the snow squalls started and I couldn't see out the window," Woodford said. "People start on their brakes, they slide out of control and the vehicles behind them can't see what's happening so they start doing the same thing. It's a chain reaction.
"It's a sheet of ice out here," he said.
Several people were stuck in the wreckage and had to be rescued. Though several people suffered back and neck sprains and broken limbs, none of the injuries were life-threatening.
An air ambulance was called to the scene as a precautionary measure, Woodford said. About two dozen other EMS vehicles from as far as Toronto were at the scene, treating the injured.
Motorists forced out of their cars because of the accident had to deal with bone-chilling temperatures. People were allowed to sit in police cruisers to keep warm. Others bundled up with other motorists whose cars were still running, Woodford said.
A Greyhound bus was also brought in to help shelter people left stranded.
The highway is expected to remain closed at Highway 89 to Highway 9 until at least the dinner hour while police investigate and clear the scene.
In the meantime, fire crews cut apart the centre median to allow drivers stuck in the traffic jam to turn around and head back north.
Several other accidents were reported along Highway 404 south of the massive pile-up as snow continued to fall in the area.
Motorists travelling in the Barrie to York Region area are being warned to drive with extreme caution.
"White-out conditions tend to come in fast and leave fast," Woodford said. "Drivers should pull off the road completely, not on the shoulder but get off the highway."
He said motorists would be wise to completely avoid the highway for the rest of the day.
An aerial view shows the scope of a fifty car pile up in Bradford, Ontario on Highway 400 on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008.
Emergency workers and tow trucks prepare to clean up after a fifty car pile up (unseen) in Bradford, Ontario on Highway 400 on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008
(Moderator edit to change thread title from "BREAKING NEWS" to insertion of event date.)
