Fatal multi-vehicle crash and fire on Highway 401

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are investigating a fatal multi-vehicle collision on Highway 401 near Mill Road in the Township of Southwold. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon following an earlier collision near Colonel Talbot Road in Middlesex County, which had slowed eastbound traffic.

The second crash involved two transport trucks and a passenger vehicle. A fire involving the passenger vehicle and one of the transport trucks was so intense that investigators have been unable to determine the exact number of fatalities or the total number of occupants involved.

The driver of one transport truck escaped without injury, while the driver of the second truck was hospitalized with minor injuries. Highway 401 was closed for approximately 11 hours during the investigation.