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Highway 401 crash sends 5 to hospital

The tractor trailer ended up in a ravine near a creek and burst into flames.

Five people are in hospital after a fiery three-vehicle accident on Highway 401.

The crash involving a tractor-trailer and two other vehicles happened at the 401 and Dixie Road at around 5:30 a.m. ET.

It's not known what led to the crash, but Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Dave Woodford said the tractor-trailer ended up in a ravine near a creek.

"The tractor-trailer did crash through the cement barrier, down the embankment towards the creek, and then automatically went up engulfed in flames," he said.

One passerby was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation.

Police shut down all eastbound 401 collector lanes at Dixie. Two lanes were allowed to pass by mid-morning and police said they hoped to have everything opened up by noon.

The crash was one of three major accidents since Friday.

A 41-year-old man died after his motorcycle struck the side of a car at Lawrence Avenue and Don Mills Road, and a 36-year-old man was sent to hospital after his motorcycle collided with a Jeep at St. Clair Avenue and Via Italia. There is no word on that man's condition.