'It's like a skating rink out here,' say Ontario Provincial Police after multiple highway crashes
8-vehicle crash has forced closure of part of Highway 401 westbound at Highway 402 split
Ontario Provincial Police responded to multiple crashes and cars in ditches Wednesday morning as ice and snow covered highways, creating dangerous driving conditions.
"It's like a skating rink out here," said Sgt. Ed Sanchuk, standing on Highway 403 westbound, where it meets Highway 401. There, a jackknifed truck forced police to shut down the highway as they waited for debris to be cleared.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OPP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OPP</a> dealing with multiple crashes and jackknifed transport trucks on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hwy401?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hwy401</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hwy403?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hwy403</a>. Roadways are ice covered. Please SLOW DOWN! When YOU <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SeeIceThinkTwice?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SeeIceThinkTwice</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WROPP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WROPP</a> ^es <a href="https://t.co/6cKZrJzGGh">pic.twitter.com/6cKZrJzGGh</a>
—@OPP_WR"The roads are ice-covered and slick. If you're travelling, please pack an ample supply of patience, keep your foot off the gas pedal, and drive for the road conditions."
An eight-vehicle crash forced Highway 401 westbound to close where it splits with Highway 402, Sanchuk said. There were no injuries.
"We have people in the ditch because they're not driving for the conditions. We're doing our best to get all this cleared up," he said.
8 vehicle crash closes westbound lanes of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hwy401?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hwy401</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Hwy402?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Hwy402</a>. No injuries were reported. Roadways are slick and icy, and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OPP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OPP</a> urging ALL motorists to SLOW DOWN! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WROPP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WROPP</a> ^es <a href="https://t.co/00Dn2pte58">pic.twitter.com/00Dn2pte58</a>
—@OPP_WROPP also closed the 402 in both directions near Sarnia on Wednesday morning after crashes involving tractor-trailers.
The westbound side was closed between Indian Road and Christina Street. On the east side, OPP closed the highway between Indian Road and Front Street.
Police said the highway could be closed until noon or later.