One particular person has died and 11 individuals had been injured in a multi-vehicle collision in Orillia, Ont., on Friday, Ontario Provincial Police say.
Orillia Hearth Chief Chris Ferry mentioned about 50 automobiles had been concerned.
The crash, which occurred simply after 9 a.m. on Friday, has shut down sections of Freeway 11 “for the foreseeable future,” says an OPP launch Friday afternoon.
Efforts are underway, nevertheless, to reopen the freeway, the OPP mentioned later in a submit on X, previously Twitter.
The discharge says the one who died was 49 years previous. The 11 injured had been taken to a neighborhood hospital and the extent of their accidents shouldn’t be recognized, the OPP mentioned within the submit.
Northbound lanes of Freeway 11 are closed between Freeway 400 and Coldwater Highway, whereas southbound lanes are closed between County Highway 169 to Line 15 in Oro Medonte, Ont.
There are additionally a number of smaller closures on surrounding roads, outlined on this submit by the OPP.
“We’re asking the entire public to keep away from all pointless journey on the roadways the place visibility situations are poor,” mentioned OPP Appearing Sgt. Jake Daynes in a video posted to X, previously referred to as Twitter.
It is nonetheless unclear what number of separate collisions passed off.
“For these concerned within the Freeway 11 collision, we’re opening up the Rotary Place … right here in Orillia,” mentioned Daynes. “It is being utilized as a warming centre.”
Ferry, the Orillia hearth chief, says about 50 persons are sheltering on the Rotary Place.
Rotary Place in Orillia is getting used a warming centre for individuals concerned within the Freeway 11 crash on Friday. (Chris Ferry/Orillia Hearth )
Tow truck driver Sonny Subra was not concerned in a collision, however says his car received caught on Freeway 11 close to the crash.
“It was very slippery. I attempted to regulate my car after which parked on the correct shoulder,” he mentioned in an interview with the CBC.
“There’s a number of transport vehicles concerned — like, eight or 9 transport vehicles. There’s individuals injured. It is a mess,” he mentioned.
Subra later posted movies of individuals leaving their trapped automobiles behind to get in a bus, whereas others are picked up in an ambulance.
The Orillia space is beneath a snow squall warning on Friday, with Atmosphere Canada warning about hazardous journey situations and poor visibility.
The OPP says they’re additionally coping with different collisions within the space, and “quite a few surrounding roads are experiencing heavy name quantity” as properly.
