Two drivers charged after collision closes Highway 401 at County Road 4

The multi-vehicle collision that shut down part of Highway 401 on the morning of Friday, Jul. 21, 2023, has also resulted in two people – the driver of a tow truck and the driver of a transport truck – being charged by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

The collision occurred just after 6 a.m. on at the County Road 4 exit off of the eastbound lanes of Highway 401, between Napanee and Odessa. Three vehicles were involved, including two transport trucks and a pickup truck, according to the Lennox and Addington (L&A) County Detachment of the OPP.  

“A tow truck was attempting to hookup and remove the trailer portion of a transport truck that was disabled and partially in the live lane on Highway 401. Vehicles had to move over and around to exit the highway,” explained Acting Sgt. Erin Cranston, Regional Media Coordinator for the OPP.

“A transport truck rear ended a pickup truck that was towing a large utility flat-bed and that same transport truck collided with the disabled trailer.”

No injuries were reported as a result of the collision, which resulted in the eastbound lanes of the highway being closed intermittently for six hours as the L&A OPP carried out their investigation and the disabled vehicles were removed from the roadway.

As a result of the investigation, the driver of the tow truck was charged with interfering with traffic, and the driver of the transport truck that struck two vehicles was charged with careless driving and improper tires on a drawn vehicle, the OPP said in response to Kingstonist inquiries.