Global Courant
A massive fire that followed a collision on Highway 401 in Pickering, east of Toronto, killed at least one person on Tuesday evening, Ontario Provincial Police say.
According to Sgt. Kerry Schmidt, spokesman for the OPP’s Highway Safety Division.
The highway was closed in both directions from 1:30 a.m. as firefighters kept an eye on the fire. Police said morning traffic is impeded as a result.
“There was a huge fire reported, there were clashes with explosions,” Schmidt said.
A transport truck continued to burn as of 1:30 a.m. ET and crews were unable to reach it. The remaining vehicles were consumed by the fire and those fires have been extinguished.
Delays and damage
“There may be more injuries to report once the fire has been put down and we can assess the situation,” Schmidt said.
“Explosions have been reported along the sewers because this liquid has entered the holding basins.”
Schmidt said the nature of the smoke and toxins is unknown. He said Pickering and Toronto firefighters were on scene and waiting for the fire to die down before working on it.
Police said they closed Highway 401 in all directions on Brock Road while they investigated the blaze. (Colin Williamson)
There were miles of delays on the highway, he added, and the fire caused damage to the Brock Road overpass.
The collision and fire left hundreds of vehicles stuck in traffic, he said. Schmidt urged people stuck in traffic to wait for directions from officers before attempting to turn around or reverse.
Police said they have closed Highway 401 westbound at Westney Road and eastbound at Whites Road while they investigate the accident.
Schmidt said he expects the investigation to continue Wednesday morning.
Earlier, Schmidt said: “We’re in big trouble right now. You can still see the flames burning from a tanker truck that started over an hour ago. All traffic is shut down and forced to pull off Brock Road here in eastbound side. No traffic comes through on the west side,” he said.
Durham Regional Police are urging residents of Pickering near the fire to keep windows and doors closed.
Police said they are looking for the occupants of a red Chevy Volt involved in the collision on the 401.
Motorists are urged to avoid the area.
Update. -Significant incident pic. twitter.com/XyapKGMyzQ
Pickering residents in the area of the major fire on HWY 401 near Brock are being advised to keep their windows and doors closed as a precaution. updates will follow
Significant incident pic.twitter.com/0CWVchCdHQ
