Ontario Provincial Police report that the accident occurred west of Kenora, causing a closure at the highway’s junction with Rush Bay Road.
KENORA – Provincial police are advising motorists to steer clear of a section of Highway 17 located west of Kenora.
In a social media update on Tuesday afternoon, the OPP’s North West Region branch announced that the Trans-Canada was shut down at its intersection with Rush Bay Road due to a serious collision involving a tractor trailer and a passenger vehicle.
The closure is approximately nine kilometers west of the turnoff to Clearwater Bay. Ontario 511 indicated that the crash took place further west, near Royal Lake.
The OPP informed Newswatch on Tuesday afternoon that drivers should anticipate the highway being closed for “several hours” as investigations are underway.
An update shared on social media around 5:50 p. m. CT revealed that OPP was collaborating with fire officials to reopen one lane of the highway, allowing traffic to pass in alternating directions. They mentioned it would likely take one to two hours to accomplish this.
Police confirmed at around 8:30 p. m. CT that traffic was being allowed through in alternating directions and advised motorists to expect delays and follow instructions from officers present at the scene.
As per either update, there had still been no information released by police regarding any potential injuries.
In its evening forest fire situation update, Ontario’s Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) reported a 1.5-hectare fire (referred to as Kenora 14) burning adjacent to Highway 17 south of Royal Lake, about eight kilometers east of the Ontario/Manitoba border, which was not yet under control.
A spokesperson from the wildland fire office told Newswatch on Tuesday evening they couldn’t confirm what caused the fire at this time.
“An investigation must be completed prior to assigning a general cause, source of ignition and responsible group to any fire – this includes the completion of a fire investigation report,” said fire information officer Chris Marchand in an email.
“The investigation is conducted by specially trained AFFES staff and may include personnel from (the Ministry of Natural Resources) enforcement branch or other agencies such as the OPP.”
“Please avoid the area and plan alternate routes,” police stated in their initial advisory while promising updates when more information becomes available.
UPDATE: This story was updated at 6:05 p. m. CT with additional information from the OPP, at 6:25 p. m. CT with details from an Ontario Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services update, at 7:50 p. m. CT with insights from an AFFES fire information officer, and at 8:45 p. m. CT confirming one lane reopening by OPP
