Man, 49, killed after exiting his vehicle during Highway 11 pileup: OPP

Police say a man who died in a pileup on Highway 11 last week was struck when he exited his vehicle.

Police have revealed a 49-year-old man killed in a massive pileup on Highway 11 in Orillia, Ont. on Friday had stepped out of his vehicle during a blinding snowstorm.

Police say the victim was struck by another vehicle in the multi-car collision that injured nearly a dozen more and left 50 drivers stranded for hours.

“I believe that the driver was in the initial collision that had taken place due to the visibility being very poor,” said OPP Acting Sgt. Jake Daynes.

The tragic incident prompted a strong warning from provincial police to motorists involved in collisions to remain in their vehicles.

Costly Towing Bills

Friday’s crash shut down the highway for 12 hours as emergency crews worked tirelessly to clear abandoned vehicles and help stranded drivers, many of whom were taken to a temporary warming centre.

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Several motorists told CTV News leaving their vehicles on the highway came at a hefty price.

One man said he had to pay a $925 towing bill and an $85 storage fee after his truck was towed less than a kilometre from the crash site.

Daynes said officers had no choice but to prioritize public safety.

“The OPP [is] not going to be paying for the bill for people to have their vehicles towed,” he said, adding, “In emergency situations like this, we have to do what’s best for the safety of everyone.”

The Insurance Bureau of Canada confirmed insurance policies don’t cover towing fees in these cases.

“There is no coverage under insurance because being forced to evacuate or leave your vehicle is not an insured peril under the auto insurance policy,” explained Anne Marie Thomas, the bureau’s director of consumer and industry relations.

The bureau advises drivers to retrieve their vehicles as soon as possible to avoid additional storage fees while police remain focused on safety.