Massive 50-Vehicle Pileup Shuts Down Highway 401 in Eastern Ontario

EASTERN ONTARIO — A major winter storm triggered a series of multiple collisions involving up to 50 vehicles on Highway 401 in eastern Ontario, forcing the closure of a large section of the highway, according to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
The crashes occurred Monday morning near the Quinte West–Belleville area, as heavy snowfall, blowing snow, and icy road conditions sharply reduced visibility and made driving extremely dangerous. Police say several separate collisions happened across different stretches of the highway within a short period of time.
Dramatic images from the scene showed severely damaged and burned vehicles, with debris scattered across the roadway. In one incident, officers rescued a driver from a vehicle moments before it caught fire.
Despite the scale of the pileup, OPP confirmed that no fatalities and no serious injuries were reported. A small number of people were taken to hospital with minor injuries as a precaution.
Highway 401 was shut down in both directions while emergency crews worked to assist stranded motorists, extinguish vehicle fires, and clear wreckage. Westbound lanes later reopened, while eastbound lanes remained closed for several hours as cleanup and investigation continued.
Police are warning drivers to avoid non-essential travel, follow posted detours, and prepare for possible delays as winter conditions continue to affect the region. Authorities are also reminding motorists to slow down, increase following distance, and adjust driving to weather conditions.