One dead, nearly a dozen hospitalized after multi-vehicle collision during whiteouts on Highway 11

One person died in a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 11 in Orillia Friday that sent several others to the hospital.

Police say a 49-year-old man has died on Friday as a result of a collision involving multiple vehicles on Highway 11 in Orillia, Ont. that sent several others to the hospital and forced major road closures.

Intense snow squalls created white-out conditions Friday morning along the stretch of highway just north of Barrie.

Road Closures

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) closed the northbound lanes of Highway 11 from Highway 400 to Coldwater Road and southbound lanes from County Road 169 to Line 15 in Oro-Medonte due to a multi-vehicle collision in the southbound lanes near Old Barrie Road.

“This is going to be closed for the foreseeable future as we continue to do snow removal, cleanup from the collision, and we continue our investigation,” stated OPP Acting Sgt. Jake Daynes in a video posted to social media.

Additionally, police closed Line 15 north from Highway 11 to Old Barrie Road, Old Barrie Road from Line 15 north to Memorial Avenue in Orillia, and Memorial Avenue from Highway 12 to Highway 11.

Police also closed University Road in Orillia from Old Barrie Road to Diana Drive.

By Friday evening, provincial police reported its traffic incident team had cleared the scene, and the removal of vehicles abandoned along the highway had begun, but noted it would be a lengthy process.

“The OPP are working as fast as possible to reopen Highway 11 but due to the collision there is currently debris on the roadway that needs to be cleaned up prior to reopening,” Daynes posted on social media shortly after 7 p.m.

Shortly after 11 p.m. on Friday, provincial police reopened the highway in both directions, along with all the sideroads.

Stranded Motorists

Simcoe County paramedics told CTV News Barrie nearly a dozen people had been transported to Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital with varying injuries.

The City of Orillia pitched in to help those who were stranded on the highway.

“Orillia Transit has been deployed to assist in keeping individuals warm and off the highway, as well as transporting those affected to city facilities,” the City explained in an email.

Those involved in the Highway 11 collision were transported to Rotary Place at 100 University Avenue in Orillia, which is being used as a temporary warming centre.

Orillia resident Kyle Zardo told CTV News Barrie he was heading south on Highway 11 around 9 a.m. in whiteout conditions when a tractor trailer, unable to slow in time, rammed into several cars in front of him.

Zardo said the blowing snow made it nearly impossible to see what was ahead when he witnessed a second collision. He said it’s difficult to say how many vehicles were involved, adding he was stuck on the highway for three hours.

Zardo described seeing emergency crews run down the highway with stretchers through the whipping winds because their vehicles couldn’t reach everyone.

Leaving his car on the highway, Zardo was eventually taken to safety with a busload of others. He said a plow created a path for two city buses to help relocate those stuck on the highway.

White-out Conditions

Motorists are advised to avoid the area and allow space for emergency vehicles.

Police said there are higher-than-usual volumes of traffic along sideroads as motorists are rerouted off the highway.

“If you are using MAPS on your phone, it will take you to alternative routes and roadways, please be aware that those roadways are also backed up and slow due to the excessive amount of traffic that is in the area,” Daynes said Friday afternoon.

Police strongly recommend staying home if travel isn’t essential to avoid unnecessary risks, and urge motorists involved in collisions to remain in their vehicles.

“Do not get out of your vehicle because you could potentially get injured,” Daynes added.

A snow squall warning was issued Friday for Orillia and surrounding areas. Up to 40 centimetres of snowfall has already accumulated across the city.

Near-zero visibility and local blowing snow are anticipated throughout the day, but is expected to ease by the evening hours.

With files from CTV’s Julianna Balsamo