Advertisement

Nova Scotia man dead after crash involving up to 40 vehicles shut down Hwy. 401 near Kingston

Click to play video: 'Nova Scotia man dead after crash involving up to 40 vehicles shut down Hwy. 401 near Kingston'
Nova Scotia man dead after crash involving up to 40 vehicles shut down Hwy. 401 near Kingston
WATCH: 1 dead after crash pileup involves about 30 vehicles, shutting down westbound Hwy. 401 near Kingston – Dec 3, 2019

A man from Nova Scotia is dead after a multi-vehicle pileup that has shut down Highway 401 west near Kingston, Ont., Sunday afternoon, according to Ontario Provincial Police.

OPP, Kingston Fire, and Frontenac Paramedics responded to a collision in the westbound lanes of Hwy. 401 between Hwy. 15 and Montreal Street just after 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Between 30 and 40 vehicles — including passenger vehicles and tractor trailers — were involved in the crash, according to an OPP news release.

Story continues below advertisement

On Monday morning, provincial police identified the person who died in the crash as 33-year-old Matthew Robert Jamieson of Nova Scotia.

Frontenac Paramedics said they took 16 people to hospital, including three with life-threatening injuries.

Click to play video: 'Hwy. 401 stranded motorists moved to warming shelters after being caught behind pileup near Kingston'
Hwy. 401 stranded motorists moved to warming shelters after being caught behind pileup near Kingston

“Highway is now closed following collision,” tweeted the OPP just before 3 p.m. “Traffic diverting off (the highway) at Joyceville Rd.”

Story continues below advertisement

OPP said Kingston Police and the local Red Cross are coordinating their resources at a warming centre at Rideau Heights Community Centre.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“Stranded motorists not involved in the collision are being remove from the highway by Kingston City Transit buses and taken to a warming centre,” OPP said.

Click to play video: 'Salt trucks out on highways as GTA hit with winter storm'
Salt trucks out on highways as GTA hit with winter storm

In a statement, Kingston General Hospital said they received between 15 and 20 people, “most of whom have non-life-threatening injuries.”

The investigation is ongoing. The westbound lanes of the highway were closed until around 4:30 a.m. Monday morning.

Any vehicles left on the highway will be towed. Their owners can call Frontenac OPP on Monday to find out where the vehicle was taken.

Story continues below advertisement

OPP Const. Curtis Dick said the cause of the collision is still unknown but “weather did play a factor.”

The collision comes as the region — and much of southern Ontario — is under a weather advisory and snowfall warning.

Click to play video: 'Slick commute as snow and ice hit GTA'
Slick commute as snow and ice hit GTA

Rain, snow, freezing rain and ice pellets created dangerous conditions on the roads in southeastern Ontario, stretching all the way to the Greater Toronto Area.

Story continues below advertisement

There were approximately 400 collisions in the GTA alone on Sunday, according to OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt.

The storm also knocked out power to 25,000 Hydro One customers and 6,000 Toronto Hydro customers.

This story is developing and will be updated.

Click to play video: '10 cm of snow possible in Peterborough area with weekend system'
10 cm of snow possible in Peterborough area with weekend system

With files by The Canadian Press

Advertisement

Sponsored content

AdChoices