WHITE OUT CONDITIONS RESULTS IN MULTIPLE VEHICLE COLLISION
NIPIGON, ON – Officers of the Nipigon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police were busy overnight in response to a multiple vehicle collision. On February 19, 2013, at 8:47 pm, officers were dispatched to Highway 11 in the area of Orient Bay following the report of a collision between a pick up truck and a commercial motor vehicle collision. Both vehicles came to a stop on the highway following the collision but the CMV had jackknifed across the highway resulting in one male received non-life threatening injuries as a result of the collision.
A secondary collision occurred a short time later when a third passenger vehicle came upon the collision scene suddenly, struck one of the stopped vehicles and entered the ditch.
The third collision occurred when a fourth vehicle (CMV) came upon the collision scene, tried to avoid the vehicles on the highway but made slight contact with a stopped vehicle.
Officers reported that they experienced very cold winds in excess of 70 kilometres an hour overnight. Within a 350 meter stretch of highway where the roadway is highly exposed to winds blowing off Lake Nipigon, winter driving conditions turned extreme with white-out conditions resulting in zero visibility, significant drifting snow and icy sections of highway. Officers had to close the highway for approximately five hours to allow for vehicles to be safely removed.
OPP would like to remind motorists that with weather conditions have considerable impact on winter driving conditions. North West Region has experienced significant snowfall over the past few days, followed by high winds causing extreme wind chill conditions. As weather conditions have changed, so have the challenges facing drivers. Road conditions are changing rapidly from section to section. Highways across the Region have become icy and motorists are urged to use extreme caution. Extreme cold will affect the effectiveness of snow and ice removal. Police recommend that if travel is not mandatory, to consider travelling once travel conditions improve. If you choose to travel, ensure you have emergency supplies in your vehicle.
For travelers road conditions, please contact 511.
