- This accident, where a a big-rig struck an OPP cruiser that was stopped helping a stranded motorist, closed the eastbound lanes of Hwy. 401 this morning near Communication Road. (Photo courtesy Mike Uher)
The highways are open, but police continue to remind motorists to use caution if they have to go out today.
Highways 40 and 401 are open in Chatham-Kent, but are suffering whiteout conditions in places and are heavily snow covered in spots. Visibility remains poor.
Police and municipal snow-removal crews advise Chatham-Kent residents to avoid travelling if possible.
The OPP closed Highway 40 between Wallaceburg and Chatham for a time this morning this morning. They also closed Hwy. 401 in Essex County, as several tractor-trailers jack-knifed on the highway, and numerous vehicles were in the ditch. The eastbound 401 near Communications Road in Chatham-Kent was shut down for a time late this morning following an accident.
That collision took place near the Harwich Road overpass. Police say a tractor-trailer struck an OPP cruiser that was stopped to help a motorist.
Police say no one was injured in the crash.
Wayne Pollock, head of Public Works for the Chatham-Kent, said the wind is still gusting and north-south rural roads are in particularly poor condition, with larges drifts obstructing portions of the roadways.
The municipality pulled the plows off the rural roads last night due to hazardous conditions. Municipal officials report plows are making headway in terms of clearing the north-south roads in rural Chatham-Kent.
