Pileup on Ontario's Highway 401 involves at least 50 vehicles
A massive pileup involving at least 50 vehicles on Highway 401 has forced the closure of the eastbound lanes near Woodstock, Ont., while police investigate and the wreckage is cleared.
An approximately 10-kilometre-long stretch of highway — between Foldens Line and Mill Street — is closed during the investigation and cleanup of the crash that occurred just before 1 p.m. during a snow squall.
Video from the crash scene showed jackknifed tractor-trailers and other smashed vehicles scattered amid the snowy conditions.
Police have not said when the wreckage is expected to be removed and the highway reopened.
Const. Lisa Narancsik said several motorists had minor injuries.
Police directed eastbound cars in the closed lanes back up to the previous exit to get off the highway.
The Ontario Provincial Police's Greater Toronto Area traffic Twitter account posted a message saying that Highway 401 westbound at Drumbo Road had also closed temporarily during severe weather conditions.
A week ago a stretch of Highway 401 east of Oshawa was closed for several hours after an 80-vehicle pileup that occurred during a snow squall.
