One person airlifted after multi-vehicle collision on Highway 115 near Peterborough

One person was airlifted to a Toronto hospital and three others were injured following a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 115 south of Peterborough on Tuesday morning.

Both northbound and southbound lanes are closed following a major collision around 6 a.m. in the northbound lanes near Tapley 1/4 Line near Millbrook in Cavan Monaghan Township. The lanes are closed between Porter Road and Tapley 1/4 Line.

It’s the second multi-vehicle collision in the area in as many days.

Peterborough County OPP say a vehicle was travelling northbound on Highway 115 when the driver lost control and went into the ditch. Several other vehicles became involved in collisions as they attempted to avoid the vehicle including a jackknifed tractor trailer.

One person was airlifted to a Toronto-area hospital with life-threatening injuries while three others were transported to hospital with non-life threatening injuries, OPP said.

Global News Peterborough freelance videographer Harrison Perkins reported from the scene that the collision involved several transport trucks, a garbage truck, a tanker truck and several other vehicles.

OPP say one of the tractor trailers was transporting dangerous goods in separate compartments: Sodium nitrate, acetic acid and emulsion.

“They are used in the process of removing rock from quarries,” stated OPP Const. Joe Ayotte. “Precaution is being taken to ensure the safest removal of the truck for the public and the emergency services personnel at the scene.”

Around 3:45 p.m., OPP stated the truck and chemicals had been assessed and deemed safe. They noted the highway would remain close for several more hours for their investigation and scene cleanup.

“The fire department assessed the safety of the tanker and came to the determination that currently in its current state its safe and now we’re moving towards the removal of that,” Const. Jason Folz told Global Peterborough at the scene.

Police continue to investigate but believe the crash was weather-related.