Two people were killed in a massive pileup involving about 200 vehicles on a busy highway south of Montreal, according to Canadian police.
Authorities confirmed that the two people, who have not been identified, had been traveling in the same vehicle when it collided with a tank truck on Wednesday during the 200-car pileup in La Prairie, Quebec.
Stéphane Tremblay, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec said the pair were trapped in their car for hours after the crash before emergency services could pull them from the wreckage.
‘We know that these people were involved in a collision with a tank truck, which made the rescue operation more difficult for first responders,’ she said.
Two people were killed in a massive pileup involving about 200 vehicles on a busy highway south of Montreal
The crash involved more than 200 cars and was most likely triggered by whiteout conditions which came on suddenly on Wednesday in La Prairie, Quebec, said officers
Around 100 people were injured and taken to local hospitals for treatment, with at least nine said to have ‘serious’ injuries, according to the CETAM ambulance service
More than 200 cars were involved in the fatal crash which officers said was most likely triggered by whiteout conditions which came on suddenly.
The crash began at around 12.30pm on a stretch of Highway 15 that runs along the St Lawrence River.
The pileup of vehicles stretched for about a kilometer.
Initially, there were no reports of deaths but firefighters had confirmed two people had remained trapped in their vehicles Wednesday afternoon and that authorities were trying to stabilize a diesel spill before extracting them from the wreckage.
It is now confirmed that those two people died of their injuries.
The two people who died had been trapped in their car for hours after the crash and were in the process of being identified, authorities said
The two people had been traveling in the same vehicle, when it collided with a tank truck. Authorities said this made it more difficult to rescue them
Numerous vehicles were mangled, including several large trucks
Emergency personnel gather at the scene following a multi-vehicle crash on the south shore of Montreal in La Prairie, Quebec yesterday
Emergency personnel stand next to demolished cars following the fatal crash on Wednesday
Around 100 people were injured and taken to local hospitals for treatment, with at least nine said to have ‘serious’ injuries, according to the CETAM ambulance service.
About 50 vehicles were able to drive away from the collision, but 75 others needed to be towed.
Pictures from the crash shows numerous vehicles mangled, including several large trucks.
About 150 people were taken by bus to a nearby community center for treatment and to be picked up.
A school bus was also involved in the pileup, but none of the high school students on board were injured, said Andree Laforest, the province’s acting public security minister.
Quebec Transport Minister François Bonnardel said at a press conference on Wednesday that the pileup took place in an area where heavy winds come off the river, creating sudden blizzard-like conditions.
‘People were driving, there were strong winds … and, suddenly, you couldn’t see anything,” Bonnardel sad. ‘And then, well, the pileup started.”
Cars and lorries are facing all directions following the crash in Quebec
Police spokesman Sgt. Stephane Tremblay said about 50 vehicles were able to drive away from the collision, but 75 others needed to be towed
The transport minister said the highway isn’t known for particular safety issues and 65,000 vehicles use the southbound part of it on a daily basis
An investigation will take place to decide if any particular measures need to be taken
About 150 people were taken by bus to a nearby community center for treatment and to be picked up
The scene from above: Two snow removal operations took place in the area in the hour before the incident
Two snow removal operations took place in the area in the hour before the incident, he noted.
Bonnardel said the highway isn’t known for particular safety issues and 65,000 vehicles use the southbound part of it on a daily basis.
Clearing the highway took several hours as crews also grappled with a fuel spill on the site.
Police crash experts will study what caused the pileup.
The transport minister said he’ll await the results of an investigation before deciding if any particular measures need to be taken.
Clearing the highway took several hours as crews also dealt with a diesel spill on the site
A school bus was also involved in the pileup, but none of the high school students on board were injured, said Andree Laforest, the province’s acting public security minister