Highway 401 reopens after fatal crash involving tractor-trailers

Highway 401 near Tilbury has reopened after a fatal crash Friday saw a tractor trailer cross the median barrier, hitting another truck. 

One tractor trailer crossed through the centre median, and collided with another tractor trailer. Both drivers were sent to hospital with serious injuries, and one has died as a result of the incident — 44-year-old Alaa Issa of Windsor.

"At 6.55 a.m. a westbound tractor trailer loses control, crosses the centre median and strikes an eastbound tractor trailer," said OPP Const. Jay Denorer. "As a result, one of the drivers has succumbed to his injuries."

All lanes between Country Road 42 and Queens Line were closed for much of Friday, as crews dealt with the incident and clean up the diesel spill. 

"We have our technical investigators on the scene and the highway is going to be shut down — eastbound will be shut down for about six hours, and westbound will be shut down for about two more hours," Denorer told CBC news at 9:25 a.m.

​Denorer said traffic jams formed immediately following the collision and warns drivers to be alert to avoid more tragedies today. 

"There's a long line of vehicles. You're gonna have to stop. We don't want an end-of-the-queue collision," Denorer said. "Look ahead and stop if you need to stop on the highway. Just be safe."

'Carnage alley' portion of the road

Advocates have been pushing politicians to add concrete barriers to the section of Hwy. 401 that runs between London and Tilbury. They say the barriers would prevent accidents such as this from happening. 

A series of serious accidents have happened in the area of Hwy 401 deemed 'Carnage Alley.'

"We've pulled the stats of collisions in the area and ... there has been a rise in transport trucks collisions," said Denorer.