An early morning collision between two tractor-trailers has caused extensive disruption on Highway 401 in Toronto. A section of the eastbound express lanes approaching Avenue Road remains blocked after one of the trucks caught fire post-impact.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred around 6:15 a.m. on Thursday when two tractor-trailers collided in the eastbound express lanes. Following the crash, the front end of one truck ignited. Thankfully, the flames did not spread to the trailer portion.
“The cab of that truck is just burnt down to the ground,” observed CityNews 680 traffic reporter Jordan Kerr, who reported from the scene aboard a helicopter.
Emergency services promptly arrived at the scene, managing to control the fire swiftly. At this time, the bulk of the fire has been successfully doused, and, in a fortunate turn of events, no injuries have been reported from the crash.
Traffic Updates and Advisories
While the primary incident scene is being managed, the repercussions for Toronto’s morning traffic are significant. The eastbound 401 express lanes are currently shut from Allen Road to Avenue Road. As for when the blocked lanes will reopen, no official statement has been made yet.
Jordan Kerr, emphasizing the severity of the disruption, advised, “Give yourself a ton of extra time, this is going to be an extensive cleanup operation.”
Commuters should anticipate heavy delays building eastbound through both the express and collector lanes from Highway 427. The good news is the eastbound collector lanes remain open as they approach Avenue.
Residents are advised to monitor local traffic updates and plan their commutes accordingly, giving allowance for potential delays.
Ongoing Investigation
While emergency crews continue their cleanup operations, the cause of the collision remains under investigation. Further updates are expected as details emerge.
