Yesterday at at approximately 12 p.m. Chatham-Kent Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers, Chatham-Kent Fire and Chatham-Kent Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded to a motor vehicle collision involving three tractor trailers on Highway 401 westbound near County Road 42.
Two tractor trailers were stopped in traffic when a third tractor trailer struck the rear of the second tractor trailer that was stopped. The impact caused the second tractor trailer to surge ahead and collide into the rear of the first tractor trailer ahead of it.
The driver of the third tractor trailer was extricated from the vehicle by Chatham-Kent Fire Services and subsequently airlifted to hospital from the scene with non-life threatening injuries.
No injuries were reported by the drivers of the first and second tractor trailers.
A diesel spill occurred as a result of the collision. The Ministry of Environment has been notified.
The highway was closed eastbound at County Road 42 but has since reopened. The highway remained closed westbound at Bloomfield Road to facilitate the clean-up of the diesel spill and removal of the tractor trailers.
The investigation is ongoing. Further information will be released as it becomes available.
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