Emergency crews respond to a multi-vehicle crash in Orillia on Friday. CBC
A major crash on Ontario’s Highway 11 left one person dead and several others injured, forcing authorities to close the highway in both directions. The accident, involving multiple vehicles, occurred in snowy and icy conditions near Orillia.
Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to the scene shortly after 9 a.m. on Friday. Emergency services struggled to access the crash site due to heavy snow and poor visibility. Police later confirmed that a 49-year-old man from Brampton had died, while 11 others were taken to the hospital with varying degrees of injuries. However, OPP did not provide further details on their condition.
Despite the severity of the incident, OPP denied online rumors that the crash was a "mass casualty event." Acting Sgt. Jake Daynes reassured the public in a video statement, saying, “We have confirmed one deceased and multiple people transported to local hospitals with various injuries.”
The crash led to multiple road closures across the Orillia region. Highway 11 was shut down northbound from Highway 400 to Coldwater Road and southbound from County Road 169 to Line 15. Several smaller roads in the area were also closed, including Line 15 North, Old Barrie Road, Memorial Avenue, and University Road.
As of 4:30 p.m., the road closures were still in effect. Police urged drivers to avoid unnecessary travel due to hazardous conditions and poor visibility. Sgt. Daynes also advised motorists involved in crashes to remain in their vehicles to avoid being struck by other cars in low-visibility areas.
In response to the severe weather, a warming center was set up at 100 University Avenue in Orillia to assist those affected by the crash and road closures.
The area was under a snow squall warning on Friday morning, with Environment Canada predicting between 5 to 20 cm of snowfall. Officials warned of blowing snow and limited visibility, creating dangerous driving conditions.
Photos from the scene showed several vehicles damaged along the snow-covered highway. OPP officers requested that drivers stay away from the area to prevent further accidents. They also noted that nearby roads were experiencing increased traffic and additional crashes due to the highway closure.
Ornge air ambulance services were initially called to assist, with two critical care land ambulances and two helicopters dispatched. However, they were later canceled and did not transport any patients from the scene.
This is not the first time Highway 11 has been shut down due to severe winter weather. In late November, another major snowstorm forced its closure between Huntsville and Orillia. At that time, conditions were so extreme that first responders used snowmobiles to rescue stranded drivers in the Muskoka region.
