Toronto-bound QEW Lanes Shut After Transport Truck Hits Road Crew, Two Hospitalized with Serious Injuries

A transport truck plowed into a road crew in the St. Beamsville area last night sending two people to the hospital and causing the Toronto-bound lanes of the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) highway to be shut. OPP Highway Safety Division shared on Twitter that clean-up is in progress and that the lanes are expected to be shut till noon.

OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt shared the information of the accident and said the incident took place around 12:30 a.m. when maintenance crews were working on the highway. There were blocker trucks and vehicles protecting the area in the left and middle lanes when a transport truck drove into the last sign truck, trapping of the truck driver.

Following the accident, the 22-year-old truck driver suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital. The vehicle that was struck by the transport truck also hit a 39-year-old road worker who was also taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Photos of the incident shared by the OPP Highway Safety Division show the front of the transport truck completely smashed with debris and diesel everywhere.

Update: Cleanup has begun. #QEW/Ontario St Beamsville. #BurlingtonOPP pic.twitter.com/mBVYq7SsvL

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) January 18, 2023

The commute has been disrupted as Toronto-bound lanes of the QEW have been shut down West of St. Catharines. The lanes are closed from Victoria Avenue to Ontario Street, near Beamsville. Schmidt added, “There was a significant diesel spill as well on the highway, which is going to require extensive cleanup as well. There’s really debris all across the area.” In a tweet, OPP Highway Safety Division shared an update at around 8 a.m. stating that cleanup had started. Schmidt also estimated that the lanes would remain closed till noon for the investigation and clean-up.

OPP is also requesting anyone with dashcam footage or any knowledge of the crash to call Burlington OPP.

Vineet Washington