Highway 401 westbound express lanes reopen in east-end Toronto after 7-vehicle crash

A vehicle can be seen on fire on the Highway 401 westbound express lanes in Toronto Thursday night. ONTARIO MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION

By Nick Westoll

Posted June 21, 2024 12:24 am.

Last Updated June 21, 2024 8:16 am.

A fiery crash in east-end Toronto involving as many as seven vehicles forced an early closure of the Highway 401 westbound express lanes, but they have since reopened.

Emergency crews were called to the westbound lanes approaching Markham Road at around 10:40 p.m. after a crash and a vehicle fire.

The crash came just as Ontario Ministry of Transportation crews were set to close the express lanes roughly between Meadowvale and Markham roads Thursday night for construction work.

Three people were sent to the hospital, including a man in his 40s with serious but non-life-threatening injuries and two others with minor injuries.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) tells 680News Radio that seven vehicles were involved. Reports indicate that traffic had slowed, but a tractor-trailer did not stop in time and crashed into the back of a line of several vehicles. 

With files from Zaher Hachimi and Asher Roth

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