A horrific collision on Highway 401 just east of Port Hope sent six people to hospital on Thursday, August 22, 2019.
Emergency services were called to the eastbound lanes of Highway 401 at the Hamilton Township overpass at approximately 9 p.m.
It appears a eastbound tractor trailer slammed into three vehicles.
The collision started on the west side of the bridge, but debris and the vehicles were on the east side spread across all lanes of the Highway.
Two of the vehicles came to rest on the highway and a van was in the ditch by the transport.
There was major damage to all vehicles at the scene.
Four people were in a van, one was in a car and another was in the van.
All were taken to Northumberland Hills Hospital with injuries ranging from minor to serious.
An air ambulance may have been called to the hospital as a result of one of the injuries.
The driver of the transport was not injured.
Hamilton Township resident Kavin Palmer was on Telephone Road by the stop sign at Hamilton Township Boundary Road overpass when he heard the collision.
“I heard a whole lot of crashing and screeching of tires.”
When he located the collision from the bridge it was mayhem.
“A lot of people were running around. The firefighters were stuck way back from the scene because the traffic was stopped.”
“We could see all the people in the van moving around. People in the front seat were leaning back talking to the people in the back seat. So I’m sure they were ok enough.”
Firefighters and paramedics removed one woman from a heavily damaged vehicle and Palmer said he could tell she was seriously injured, but he could also see from the bridge that she was moving her legs.
Palmer said times have changed along Highway 401.
“It used to be the average speed was 110 kph or 115 kph, but now you can do 125 and cars are still passing you. People are getting stupid.”
Transport drivers also need to take more precautions.
Palmer works nights and gets off at 4 a.m. and sees transports all over the road.
“Who knows if that’s them on the phone or driving to long.”
Highway 401 was backed up for several kilometres as a result of the closure and numerous vehicles failed to follow the emergency detour routes causing congestion along roadways near Highway 401.
OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigators were called to the scene and the eastbound lanes at Port Hope are expected to remain closed for several hours.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
