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Two police officers were among scores of people injured as dangerous road conditions contributed to 400 reported crashes early Wednesday in southwestern Ontario.
Sleet and heavy snow combined with poor visibility created hazardous driving conditions at night and during the morning commute. Meteorologists predict more snow in the evening.
One notable crash involved two police cars that were struck from behind while officers stopped to investigate another collision on Highway 403 east of London. Both officers were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, police said.
“The roads are covered in snow and ice. You need to slow down, and when you see flashing lights, the law requires you to slow down and move over. If you can't move over safely, you need to slow down,” OPP Sgt. – Ed Sanchuk said.
“It's just common sense.”
Police said they were called to crash scenes throughout the region, from Middlesex and Oxford to Haldimand and Elgin counties. Dozens of roads were closed, including at times portions of the 400 series highways.
Westbound lanes of Highway 401 have reopened after being closed for about two hours in London, between Highbury Avenue and Wellington Road, where a folded transport trailer blocked the lanes after colliding with a car.
Transport truck overturned
Another trailer piled up earlier in the day blocked the westbound lanes of Highway 401 at Wonderland Road. The westbound lanes of 402 near Glendon Drive in Middlesex County were also closed when a truck carrying vehicles overturned in a crash that was later cleared.
Throughout the morning and afternoon, Sanchuk made a series of increasingly urgent public addresses, urging drivers to slow down.
“The last thing we want to do is knock on someone's door to [tell their family] that they were injured or killed in an accident that could have been prevented,” he said.
In addition to crashes across the region, the weather led to widespread bus cancellations and school closures in rural areas of southwestern Ontario.
OPP also issued a public warning for people spending time near bodies of water, saying falling into icy water can become life-threatening within minutes.
As for the water that appears to be frozen, police said no ice is safe ice and it should always be assumed that it is possible to fall through and end up in a life-threatening situation.
Police also urged the public to be careful when using snowmobiles, sharing tips that include:
- Stay on designated routes.
- Wearing appropriate clothing.
- Loading What3words app to help first responders locate your location.
- Going outside with a partner.
