QEW reopens after multi-vehicle crashes near St. Catharines, Ont.
Police say charges have been laid and no life-threatening injuries were reported
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) say all Toronto-bound lanes of the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) have reopened following two separate collisions near Niagara Street in St. Catharines, Ont., on Monday morning.
In multiple posts on X, OPP said the first crash, near the Niagara Street overpass, happened around 7:19 a.m. and involved three vehicles. One of the drivers was taken to hospital with "fairly serious injuries." Police say the crash was caused by an unsafe lane change, and one driver has been charged with careless driving.
A second collision occurred shortly after 7:36 a.m., about 500 metres past Welland Avenue. It involved two tractor trailers and five other vehicles.
Police say one of the transport truck drivers failed to slow down in time for traffic ahead, triggering a pileup. That driver has been charged with careless driving. Two people from the second crash were taken to hospital, including one with initially serious injuries. Those injuries were later downgraded.
The highway was fully closed eastbound at Glendale Avenue for several hours while police investigated and cleanup crews cleared the scene. Drivers were able to rejoin the QEW from Niagara Street.
The highway reopened around 1:20 p.m.
OPP described both crashes as preventable. Const. Robert Tihor told CBC Hamilton the incidents are a reminder to adjust driving behaviour with changing road conditions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
