53-vehicle pile-up closes highway, leaves motorists stranded hours in snow

This is the aftermath of a 53-vehicle pile-up that emergency crews say anyone was lucky to survive.

Aerial footage shows dozens of twisted wrecks of the mostly trucks and tankers involved, scattered hundreds of metres along an icy Highway 401 near Belleville in Canada on Thursday morning.

Around them on the two snowy embankments bordering the road lay the lorries' jackknifed cabs, balanced on tilt, the trailers that managed to break free and an overturned car unfortunate enough to be caught in their path.

Only four people suffered minor injuries in the pile-up, which caused hours of tail backs and countless drivers stranded in freezing conditions.

Volunteer firefighter Dave McCue told local media he had never seen such destruction in his 38-year career.

"Nothing like this involving so many tractor trailers and tanker trucks," Mr McCue said.

"It's amazing no one was killed."

Mr McCue said one truck driver even managed to walk away unharmed after his cab was totally destroyed when sent into a violent spiral.

Three tankers involved were carrying diesel fuel and canola oil and there was a "significant spill".

The road remained closed for all of Thursday while the wreckages were cleared and the spill cleaned.

Local authorities made arrangements for 53 stranded motorists to be taken to shelter at a nearby Ramada Inn hotel.

Investigations are underway into the cause of the crash, however, police believe icy conditions were to blame.

Author: Chloe Ross, Approving editor: Simon Black
Source: Belleville Intelligencer