Vehicle slams into dump truck in Hwy. 401 construction zone

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OPP say alcohol may have been a factor in a dramatic crash involving a vehicle and a stopped dump truck on Highway 401 early Tuesday.

Around 12:45 a.m., crews were working in the westbound collector lanes near Dufferin St. when they witnessed a vehicle cross into the construction zone through the pylons and continue on, approaching workers, OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt said.

“One of the workers tried to flag down the driver, who collided with a parked pickup truck,” Schmidt said. “As the construction worker spoke with the driver, he was under the impression that the driver may be impaired by alcohol and began to call 911.”

Schmidt said the driver then continued through the construction zone, striking the pickup a second time and continuing on until he hit a dump truck parked on the left shoulder.

The 32-year-old male driver sustained life-threatening injuries and was transported to hospital, Schmidt said.

None of the construction workers were injured.

The OPP investigation is ongoing and the Ministry of Labour is also involved.

Schmidt noted the construction zone had closed off two lanes of Hwy. 401 and there were still three active lanes available to drivers when the incident occurred.