DURHAM REGION-Officers from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Highway Safety Division (HSD) – Toronto Detachment, are investigating a fuel tanker collision that resulted in a significant fire and resulted in two fatalities.
Police say on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, at 10:30 p.m., the OPP were called to a collision on Highway 401 at Brock Road in Durham. The driver of a double-fuel-tanker transport truck was travelling eastbound on Highway 401 approaching Brock Rd. According to police, the driver lost control for an unknown reason and the transport truck collided into the center concrete wall separating eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 401. As a result of the collision, the fuel tanker rolled into the westbound lanes, ruptured, and caught fire, the driver of the truck was pronounced deceased at the scene.
At the same time, two vehicles, a passenger vehicle and a transport truck travelling westbound on Highway 401 drove through the collision scene and caught fire. The two occupants of the passenger vehicle were able to stop and exit their vehicle without injuries. The driver of the second transport truck was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Toronto OPP and the OPP-HSD Traffic Support Unit are assisting the coroner with this death investigation. The two deceased drivers have not been positively identified. The eastbound and westbound lanes of Highway 401 remain closed for investigation and cleanup.
Any witnesses or anyone with information or dash cam are asked to call the Toronto OPP at 416-235-4981.
