highway 401

100 vehicles pile up on Highway 401 and people are being warned to stay away

Several meteorologists and police officers are urging Ontarians to stay off the roads — and specifically Highway 401 — amid a mega winter storm that's resulted in local street closures, flight cancellations, and hazardous conditions.

It's a bad day to be travelling anywhere, but one Weather Network meteorologist is advising holiday commuters to specifically avoid Highway 401 east of Toronto through Kingston.

Another meteorologist echoed this previous advice, calling travel along the 401 east "hazardous."

A section of Highway 401 was also closed after a crash involving 12 vehicles this morning. As a result, both eastbound and westbound lanes were closed between London and Tillbury.

Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told CP24 that there are reports of more than 100 vehicles involved in several collisions along Highway 401.

While no serious injuries have been reported as of yet, heavy snowfall and strong winds are resulting in a pile-up situation between the Windsor and London corridor.

"Just got off the phone with the communication centre Sergeant in London and OPP across southwestern Ontario are responding to hundreds of collisions right now," Const. Ed Sanchuk said in a video posted to Twitter.

"If you do not need to travel today please stay off the roadways," Sanchuk said. "As you can see right now, the winter storm is causing basically zero visibility."

If you absolutely must get behind the wheel today, the constable suggests reducing your speed drastically because the roadways are slick and full of ice.

Lead photo by

Dutton/Dunwich Fire Department



Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

$6.4B Ontario bridge's big moment arrives with an iconic cross-border handshake

Toronto was just named one of the top 10 most 'impossibly affordable' cities in the world

Construction for busiest station on future Toronto subway line is heating up

Popular Ontario road trip destination is being copied with fake version in Toronto

Giant 'beast' sized rats are completely taking over an Ontario city

Last Canada Child Benefit payments before big increase are going out next week

Tornado watches in effect for Southern Ontario as severe thunderstorm approaches

Someone got a horrible TTC tattoo and people in Toronto think it's absolutely hilarious