Multiple crashes reported in Toronto amid resurgence of wintry weather

Toronto emergency services responded to multiple collisions in the city on Tuesday morning, as a late resurgence of winter weather caused black ice and slippery road conditions. 

The southbound Don Valley Parkway was closed at Don Mills Road and the Bayview/Bloor ramps after a reported six-vehicle crash, but has since reopened, Toronto police said. 

The crash happened on the DVP and Eastern Avenue around 5:27 a.m., police said in a post on X.

Officers on scene reported the roads were very slippery due to black ice, Const. Ashley Visser said. One person sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital, she said. 

A separate three-vehicle collision happened on the Gardiner Expressway E. and York Street around 5:34 a.m., police said. There were no reports of injuries.

There were also collisions at Lake Shore Boulevard W. and Bay Street, as well as Sheppard Ave W. and Bathurst Street in North York, said Toronto police Staff Sgt. Paul Lentsch. 

The incidents all appeared to involve property damage with no reported injuries, he said. 

"I don't think anyone anticipated slippery conditions or frost at this time of year, so they haven't adjusted their driving potentially," Lentsch said. 

Some drivers may have already removed their winter tires, he added. People are asked to slow down and drive according to weather conditions. 

The City of Toronto is planning to address weather conditions with crash trucks and possible salt trucks, he said. 

Winter weather advisory lifts

Paramedics said they responded to six collisions across the city on Tuesday morning. Most of the incidents were fender-benders and none involved life-threatening injuries, they said. 

Slippery road conditions and patches of black ice were reported at multiple locations, paramedics said.

Meanwhile, Ontario Provincial Police responded to "a couple dozen" crashes across the Greater Toronto Area on Tuesday, Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said. He said they are also not investigating any serious injuries.

Riders will see delays on all streetcar and bus routes due to the weather, the TTC said in a post on X on Tuesday. A full list of detours can be found on the TTC's website. 

Environment Canada issued a winter weather travel advisory for the city on Tuesday morning but that has since lifted. Between two to four centimetres of snow is expected to fall, and untreated surfaces may become icy and slippery, the advisory said. 

Schmidt said people should continue to drive cautiously into the afternoon, as roads may still be wet, damp and icy.

Warming centres opening in the evening

While weather advisories have ended, temperatures are expected to drop below –5 C Tuesday night. That's prompting the city of Toronto to open five of its warming centres Tuesday evening, the city said in an email.

The following warming centres will open at 5 p.m.:

• 136 Spadina Rd. (south of Dupont St.)
• 81 Elizabeth St. (behind City Hall. West of Bay St., south of Dundas St. W.)
• 12 Holmes Ave. (Off of Yonge St., south of Finch Ave. E.)
• 885 Scarborough Golf Club Rd. (East of Markham Rd., south of Ellesmere Rd.)
• Metro Hall, 55 John St. (East of John St., north of Wellington St. W.)

People do not have to call ahead to access warming centres. The city says it welcomes walk-ins.

The city opens five warming centres when temperatures reach –5 C or when Environment Canada issues a winter weather event warning. Two more sites open in extreme cold at –15 C. The sites provide a place to rest, access meals, use washroom facilities and provides referrals to emergency shelters with additional supports.