50 vehicles involved in several collisions halting traffic on Hwy. 401
Posted Jan 27, 2026 11:57:33 AM.
Last Updated Jan 27, 2026 04:26:03 PM.
A long stretch of the main throughway from eastern Ontario was closed following what police called several collisions involving dozens of vehicles
Provincial police were forced to close Highway 401 westbound near Belleville after many collisions were reported in the area between Glen Miller and Wallbridge Loyalist roads.
Officers said an estimated 50 vehicles were involved. There are no reports of life-threatening or serious injuries linked to crashes, police said.
The highway through this portion of Ontario was snow-covered as of Tuesday, after a wicked winter storm ripped through the province. Estimates put the Belleville, Ont. area at receiving 35 centimetres of snow from the Sunday evening system.
Vehicles were routed off the highway at Wallbridge Road for several hours with police saying this was a lengthy process to clear the backlog.
Buses gathered stranded motorists and brought them to the Trenton Arena, where a warming centre was set up. Drivable vehicles cleared from the westbound lanes. As of 4:15 p.m., police told CityNews that all westbound lanes are open while the eastbound lanes are still being cleaned up.
“OPP recognizes extended highway closures can be frustrating. Crews are working towards reopening highway as quickly as possible,” it notes.
Snow squalls with 5-10 cm possible
A yellow warning from Environment Canada along the portion of Lake Ontario noted that reduced visibility from heavy blowing snow was expected over the afternoon.
The localized note from the weather agency said that it is primarily south along the highway corridor.
“Poor visibility due to intense snowfall rates and local blowing snow will be the predominant hazard,” it reads. “Snow squalls will move south of the area through the afternoon.”
The treacherous conditions are likely to play a role in the several crashes reported along the highway near Kingston on Tuesday.
Second large impact to Hwy. 401
This follows another highway closure after a snowstorm earlier this month.
On Jan. 15, as lake-effect snow whipped through the area, drivers on Highway 401 between Lansdowne and Mallorytown, near Brockville, were stopped after two serious crashes.
OPP said at least 20 vehicles were involved, but the crashes also created a backlog of hundreds of drivers stuck behind the mess. One child was transported to hospital with serious injuries. Other injuries were reported.
OPP did not have an exact number on those sent to hospital.
