Fatal collision on 401 at Highway 37

BELLEVILLE, ON. (25/02/2015) – Two tow trucks are on site to free a tractor trailer involved in a fatal collision where one woman died early this morning about three kilometres east of Belleville on Highway 401. Photo by Andrzej Terrence

BELLEVILLE – A collision between an SUV and a tractor trailer eastbound on Highway 401 at Highway 37, just 3 kilometers east of Belleville, left one person dead and five others hospitalized around 8 a.m. this morning.

The OPP have confirmed that a 58 year-old female died at the scene and a coroner is present. Five other people in the SUV were transported to Belleville General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  The OPP said one of those passengers was trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated by the Belleville Fire Department.

The 401 eastbound remains closed as of 11 a.m. just past Highway 37. The OPP expects the stretch of highway to stay closed for several hours as they continue to investigate the accident. A detour is set up northbound at Highway 37 to Blessington Road, east to Shannonville Road and then south back to Highway 401.

The weather has been affecting driving across Ontario, as the OPP tweeted that since 6:30 a.m. there have already been 85 collisions reported. Closer to home, Quinte West OPP have responded to five accidents within city limits over the past 24 hours.