Provincial police in Elgin County are still trying to figure out how many people lost their lives in a crash involving a transport truck and a passenger vehicle on Hwy. 401 near London on Tuesday.
That update came early Wednesday afternoon.
Initially, police announced around 4 p. m. on Tuesday that the eastbound lanes of the highway had been closed due to a multi-vehicle accident near Colonel Talbot Road and advised drivers to seek alternate routes.
Twenty minutes later, police extended the closure after another crash occurred.
OPP Sgt. Ed Sanchuk mentioned at that time that the passenger vehicle was stuck in traffic near Mill Road from the first collision when it got rear-ended by a transport truck, igniting into flames with an unknown number of people inside.
In their update on Wednesday, police confirmed that the deadly crash involved two transport trucks along with a passenger vehicle. One of those transport trucks and the passenger car caught fire.
The highway remained closed for 11 hours before reopening, according to police. The driver of the first transport truck was not hurt, while the driver of the second transport truck was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
“Due to the intensity of the fire.. investigators have not yet been able to determine how many occupants were inside” the passenger vehicle, police noted in their update.
The closures led to long delays for some drivers, prompting police to remind everyone that “calls to police regarding road closures can tie up resources needed to respond to emergencies.”
The investigation is ongoing and police said they will share more information as it becomes available.
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