Photos from Highway 401 near Belleville show several burned cars and spinach scattered across the roadway after more than 50 vehicles were involved in several crashes on Tuesday.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating the incident that left dozens of people stranded for hours, because of collisions in the eastbound lanes of the main throughway from eastern Ontario.
The latest update from Sgt. Erin Craton, of OPP east region, notes that there were no serious injuries or fatalities in the crashes that happened around 8:30 a.m. She did say that three to four people were sent to hospital with minor injuries.
Westbound lanes opened around 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, whereas the eastbound lanes were closed for several more hours into the evening.
“The close-ups show a car from which a woman was pulled just before the car became engulfed in flames,” OPP said in a post on X.
Officials also noted that spinach, carried by one of the transport trucks involved in a collision, is covering several of the vehicles.
“It is a very clear reminder to slow down and give space between you and the vehicle in front of you,” Craton said.
Spinach covered several vehicles after a transport truck was involved in a fiery crash. (OPP)
Second snow-covered, multi-vehicle pile up
This portion of the roadway was snow-covered on Tuesday. A yellow warning from Environment Canada at the time noted reduced visibility due to heavy blowing snow.
The squalls and snow were mainly along the busy highway corridor. The treacherous conditions are likely to play a role in the crashes.
This follows another highway closure after a snowstorm earlier this month.
On Jan. 15, as lake-effect snow whipped through the area, drivers on Highway 401 between Lansdowne and Mallorytown, near Brockville, were stopped after two serious crashes.
OPP said at least 20 vehicles were involved, but the collisions also created a backlog of hundreds of drivers stuck behind the mess. One child was transported to hospital with serious injuries. Other injuries were reported.