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The Ontario Ministry of Transportation says its reviewing its winter maintenance operations at the time of a fatal accident Monday morning, where 38-year-old woman’s vehicle was “launched” over a snowbank on the Highway 7 flyover ramp in Kitchener and fell onto the highway below.
It was one of two accidents Monday morning where drivers lost control of their vehicle on the flyover ramp.
Around 2 a.m., the driver of a taxi cab lost control of their vehicle and “ramped up” over the snow embankment onto Highway 8 below. The cab driver was taken to hospital with injuries.
The fatal crash happened at approximately 7:30 a.m., according to Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
That section of roadway is cleared by the MTO and not the Region of Waterloo or City of Kitchener.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these incidents,” the ministry said in an email statement to CBC News.
“We are reviewing winter maintenance operations at the time of the incidents and will review findings of the police investigation, when available.”
WATCH | Snow buildup cleared on Hwy 7 flyover ramp:
MTO clears snow buildup on Hwy 7 flyover, reviewing winter maintenance operations
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation says it’s reviewing winter maintenance operations at the time of a fatal accident Monday morning where a vehicle drove over a snowbank on the Highway 7 flyover ramp in Kitchener. MTO plowed and salted the ramp, and removed the snow by Tuesday.
OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told CBC News on Monday that the snow and the road conditions played a factor in the crashes.
Waterloo region was under several weather alerts from Environment Canada on Sunday and Monday for snow squalls and blowing snow. The area saw between 10 and 15 cm of snow Sunday into Monday morning.
“[Plows] push that snow onto the shoulders, but with the amount of snow we accumulated over the last 24 hours, we got to the point where there was no more space to push that snow and it ends up turning into an embankment along the concrete wall,” Schmidt said.
MTO did not answer questions from CBC News regarding when snow had last been cleared from the sides of the flyover ramp ahead of the two crashes.
A video at the scene showed snow was pushed against the edge of the flyover ramp, making the height of the snow level with the concrete barrier.
Schmidt noted snow can’t be pushed up and over the concrete barrier because then it would fall over the side and onto the highway, and potentially vehicles, below.
The snow was cleared from the roadway by Tuesday morning.
This photo, posted to Reddit, shows snow was pushed against the edge of the Highway 7 flyover ramp in Kitchener, making the height of the snow level with the concrete barrier. (Nick G/Reddit)Investigation continues
Schmidt told CBC News on Tuesday that police continue to investigate the crashes and are looking at whether mechanical issues or driver error were also contributing factors.
“The lanes themselves were plowed and salted and somehow the drivers still lost control,” he said.
Schmidt the ramp was reopened after MTO plowed and salted after the crash at 2 a.m. and did the same after the second crash. After the second crash was when MTO removed the snow.
He said OPP will close a highway if it’s not passable, but the lanes on the ramp were salted and plowed and “were good.”
“Traffic was getting by, except for these two collisions that took place,” he said.
“If it was an absolute skating rink, absolutely we’re not going to reopen until the plows and salters have gone through. It happens all the time.”
He added there are no charges pending at this time.