Fiery truck crash on QEW causing absolute chaos on local roads and highways

A morning truck crash just south of the Burlington Skyway has caused traffic pandemonium stretching kilometres in both directions on and around the QEW.

A transport truck burst into flames after colliding with a concrete centre median, forcing lane closures that have had a cascading effect on traffic across the Greater Toronto Area through much of Tuesday.

Traffic is getting worse and worse right now on the #burlingtonskyway from an earlier truck fire. Plan accordingly #hamilton #burlington #skyway #qew https://t.co/lJwRAUIxiS pic.twitter.com/OWX9zHoInu

— Kyle.Taylor *community noter* (@livingbyyyz) September 19, 2023

OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt reports, "We're dealing with major problems on the QEW in Burlington just south of the skyway. Between Eastport and Woodward is where we have a significant issue, tractor trailer caught on fire as a result of colliding with the concrete wall."

According to Schmidt, "There was a fuel leak, a fire began consuming the tractor as well as the insulation cargo inside the trailer."

He explains that "Fire is on scene working on getting that fire put down," but notes that "[the] problem with the fire, it's down in the insulation. They're taking the insulation off the trailer piece by piece, dousing it with water to make sure it is not going to reignite."

Truck fire: #QEW/Eastport Drive. All Niagara bound lanes blocked, only one Toronto bound lane open between Eastport and Woodward. No injuries, #BurlingtonOPP investigating. pic.twitter.com/Ocw7s71J15

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) September 19, 2023

Traffic was initially halted on that entire stretch of the QEW while police and fire crews dealt with the cleanup, and the OPP later shared images of the crash aftermath after a partial reopening of lanes.

Update: Two lanes open in both directions on the #QEW/Eastport after transport truck fire. Two left lanes remain blocked in both directions for ongoing clean up. #BurlingtonOPP ^ks pic.twitter.com/4d7RQhZPcp

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) September 19, 2023

Crews continue to clear wreckage from the scene, and highway traffic is still gridlocked throughout the Hamilton and Burlington area, along with a spillover of frustrated motorists onto local roads.

Going to be a brutal afternoon commute home!

— Rob Swartz (@RSwartz2013) September 19, 2023

Though the stretch between Toronto and the southwestern GTHA is relatively clear, inter-city commuters relying on highways can expect the risk of nightmare travel conditions for the Tuesday evening rush.