One person has lost their life after losing control on a highway ramp, going over a snowbank and crashing onto the highway below in Ontario.
The incident occurred on the westbound Highway 7 flyover to Highway 8 southbound in Kitchener at around 7:30 a. m. on Monday, according to Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt on X.
The driver, a 38-year-old woman from Waterloo, was declared dead following the crash, Schmidt shared in an update.
“The driver lost control, ended up ramping up over the embankment and down onto the highway below,” Schmidt explained.
The flyover is expected to stay closed for the entire day as crews check its safety.
Schmidt mentioned this was the second driver to go over the embankment since snowfall began on Sunday.
A taxi driver also went over the embankment and crashed onto the highway below at around 2 a. m. on Monday, Schmidt noted in an update. The taxi driver suffered minor injuries, he stated.
During significant storms, there often isn’t anywhere to put snow.
“Plows are coming through, pushing that snow to the side,” Schmidt said. “In this case, they can’t push it over the wall because it would go down onto the highway below and so it is pushed up against the edge.”
The snow will be cleared eventually, but it will take some time, he added. He reminded drivers to be cautious on overpasses as they can be icier than other road sections.
If vehicles lose control on slippery roads, snow buildup can create a “launch,” making it easier for them to go over the concrete barrier and land on the highway below.
Fatal collision: WB #Hwy7 flyover to Hwy8 SB. Kitchener.
Local resident pronounced deceased after losing control of the vehicle on the ramp and launching over the snow embankment to the highway below. Ramp closed for investigation. Updates to follow. ^ks pic. twitter. com/t4UMXyi HLW – OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) January 26, 2026 Lead photo: OPP screen shot Last 30 Days: 86,341 Votes All Time: 1,187,963 Votes 966 VOTES
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A taxi driver also went over the embankment and crashed onto the highway below at around 2 a. m. on Monday, Schmidt noted in an update. The taxi driver suffered minor injuries, he stated.
During significant storms, there often isn’t anywhere to put snow.
“Plows are coming through, pushing that snow to the side,” Schmidt said. “In this case, they can’t push it over the wall because it would go down onto the highway below and so it is pushed up against the edge.”
The snow will be cleared eventually, but it will take some time, he added. He reminded drivers to be cautious on overpasses as they can be icier than other road sections.
If vehicles lose control on slippery roads, snow buildup can create a “launch,” making it easier for them to go over the concrete barrier and land on the highway below.
Fatal collision: WB #Hwy7 flyover to Hwy8 SB. Kitchener.Local resident pronounced deceased after losing control of the vehicle on the ramp and launching over the snow embankment to the highway below. Ramp closed for investigation. Updates to follow. ^ks pic. twitter. com/t4UMXyi HLW – OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) January 26, 2026 Lead photo: OPP screen shot Last 30 Days: 86,341 Votes All Time: 1,187,963 Votes 966 VOTES
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