Ontario winter storm causes multiple crashes, highway closures

Ontario Provincial Police are warning motorists to be careful on the roads Friday amid a winter storm that is causing hazardous driving conditions and highway closures.

Officers closed all westbound express lanes on Highway 401 shortly before 11 a.m. following a five-vehicle collision close to Milton.

The crash near Trafalgar Rd. involved three transport trucks, including one that was jackknifed across several lanes of traffic.

5 vehicle crash on #Hwy401/Trafalgar. All express lanes blocked, traffic forced into the collectors. Slow down if you are on the roads. Stay home if you can. #OnStorm pic.twitter.com/zap0ZbGGrW

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) March 10, 2023

Police say only minor injuries have been reported.

“If you don’t need to be out here please stay home and wait for the system to pass,” OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said in a video posted to Twitter.

“If you are on the roads, drive with extreme caution and care. It really is challenging out here for driving.”

#BrantOPP is advising that #Hwy24 between Bethel Rd and Hwy 53 in @BrantCommunity is closed due to collisions. Please avoid the area and take an alternate route. #slowdown#blowingsnow#icyroads pic.twitter.com/4Uf891NcQO

— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) March 10, 2023

Nearly one hour later, OPP closed a portion of Highway 24 in Brant County “due to collisions.”

Officers are telling drivers to take another route as Highway 24 is closed between Bethel Rd. and Highway 53.

No injuries have been reported in connection with this crash.

There is no word yet on how long the lane closures will remain in effect.

READ MORE: Up to 20 centimetres of snow expected for Hamilton, Niagara