Police say highway fully closed in both directions between Highway 93 and Line 15; injuries being assessed at the scene
Update (12:13 p.m. Friday): Police have shut down Highway 11 between Penetanguishene Road and Line 15 in Oro-Medonte in both directions following a multi-vehicle crash north of Barrie.
While details are scarce, police closed both the northbound and southbound lanes on the highway between Barrie and Orillia, confirmed OPP Const. Ashley Taylor.
“(There are) multiple vehicles involved. I haven’t gotten any word, or notification yet on the status of any injuries,” she said. “Officers and emergency crews are on scene and assessing everybody.”
Taylor said emergency services have been busy responding to multiple crashes along that stretch of the highway, but noted the initial pileup occurred mid-morning in the southbound lane between Line 1 and Penetanguishene Road, close to the border of Oro-Medonte and Barrie.
“The first documented (crash) was near Line 1, but then it was a string reaction … They’ve just closed a whole stretch because there were multiple poor conditions,” she said. “They’re just trying to assess it and not add to it because of the weather, and to keep people off of that stretch, which is just low visibility and poor conditions while they are assessing the other ones.”
In addition to provincial police, Oro-Medonte Fire and Emergency Services (OMFES), with the assistance of the Barrie Fire and Emergency Services (BFES) department, have also responded to the incident.
BFES officials say they received the call for mutual aid from Oro-Medonte shortly after 11 a.m., said Assistant Deputy Chief Thomas Bezruki.
“We dispatched, initially, three apparatus as well as our deputy chief. We are still on scene now and Oro-Medonte’s chief is on scene as well,” he said. “It was for a hazardous material motor vehicle, as well as additional motor vehicle collisions.”
Twelve Barrie firefighters, along with the deputy chief, are still on scene, Bezruki noted.
“We will be there for a while, I anticipate,” he said.
Bezruki was unable to comment on what, if any, injuries were sustained.
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ORIGINAL STORY
Ontario Provincial Police have closed a large section of Highway 11 between Barrie to Orillia following a multi-vehicle collision and fire this morning.
Police say the highway is fully closed in both directions between Highway 93 and Line 15.
Injuries are being assessed at the scene, police say.
The OPP says there is poor visibility in area due to weather. Motorists are asked to avoid travelling if possible.
We will provide more details as information becomes available.
HWY CLOSURE: #Hwy11 is fully closed in NB and SB lanes between Hwy 93 and Line 15, from #Barrie to #Orillia, due to a multi-vehicle collision and vehicle fire. Injuries being assessed. Poor visibility in area due to weather, please avoid travelling if possible. ^pia #OrilliaOPP pic.twitter.com/KRKJKSdOpe
— OPPCommunicationsCR (@OPP_COMM_CR) January 23, 2026