Cows close portion of Highway 401 east of Oshawa

Highway 401 was closed after several cows wandered on the roadway east of Oshawa early Monday morning.

The westbound lanes of the highway near Veronville closed shortly after 2:30 a.m., the Ontario Provincial Police said. Veronville is a rural community east of Cobourg.

The cows took “an early morning stroll from a nearby field,” the OPP said.

There were no collisions thanks to attentive and cautious drivers, police said.

Officers assisted the owner in safely escorting the animals back home near Vernonville.

“A reminder that hazards can come in all shapes and sizes—stay alert, slow down, and expect the unexpected… even if it mooo-ves,” the OPP said.

Traffic Update – Hwy 401 westbound (Vernonville)

Shortly after 2:30 a.m., #Hwy401 WB was briefly closed after several cows decided to take an early-morning stroll from a nearby field.

Thanks to attentive and cautious motorists, there were no collisions. #NthldOPP assisted the… pic.twitter.com/m9yBCCI8ru

— OPP Central Region (@OPP_CR) June 1, 2026